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Conviction for DWI sending a message, officials say |
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Thursday, 03 July 2008 |
James Oran Williams, 44, of 724 Brewer Road in Hensley was sentenced to seven months in the Saline County jail for first-offense driving while intoxicated after appearing Tuesday in Circuit Court for a violation that occurred last year.
Local and state law-enforcement officials said they will be watching drivers over the July 4th weekend and Saline County Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady reminds people that drinking while driving can have serious legal consequences.
“Six months in the county jail demonstrates how serious this community takes drunk driving,” Casady said.
“Mr. Williams will have plenty of time to reflect on his decision to get behind the wheel after drinking.”
Saline County Deputy Ted Berg said in a sheriff’s office report on Dec. 8, 2006, that Williams was stopped for not having a license plate light on his van.
When Williams pulled over, he got out of the van before Berg got out of his vehicle and put both hands on the vehicle. Berg said in the report that he smelled intoxicants and asked Williams how much he had to drink. Williams reportedly replied that he would not take any tests and would not blow in any machine.
Berg said Williams exhibited slow speech and had to lean on his van to keep his balance. Williams was asked several times to perform a field sobriety test, but repeatedly refused, the report said.
When taken into custody, Berg said Williams started spitting in the patrol car and would not stop despite the deputy’s commands.
Williams was charged with DWI, driving on suspended license for DWI, disorderly conduct, defacing public property, defective equipment and failure to submit to a chemical test.
Williams later appeared before Saline County District Judge Mike Robin-son, who convicted him of DWI, but an appeal process brought the issue before Saline County Circuit Judge Grisham Phillips on Tuesday. After listening to testimony from Berg, a jury convicted Williams. He was sentenced to a six-month term in the Saline County Detention Center and ordered to pay a $1000 fine. After making disparaging remarks aimed at the court staff and attorneys, Phillips cited Williams for contempt of court and sentenced him to an additional 30 days in jail.
Both local and state law-enforcement officials warn motorists that anytime they drink over the legal limit and get behind the wheel, they also could face jail time and fines. The state legal limit for blood-alcohol content is 0.08 percent.
“We’ll have extra officers on the DWI task force over the holiday weekend,” Benton Police Sgt. Kevin Russell said. “We’ll be keeping a lookout for drunk drivers.”
Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said there will be an increase in officers over the July 4th weekend as part of a the national combined accident reduction effort, commonly known as Operation C.A.R.E. The program began in 1977 when a Michigan State Police sergeant and an Indiana State Police sergeant joined forces and dedicated their careers to saving lives on the highways.
The program was formed as a multi-jurisdictional program of patrol, enforcement and planning activities committed to the goal of accident reduction, according to www.careofnorthamerica.org. The Web site states that the program tries to deter three key causes of highway fatalities — speeding, impaired driving and failure to use seat belts.
Operation C.A.R.E. now runs in all 50 states and Canada. The program, which started at 12:01 a.m. today, will run through midnight Sunday.
“Each of the 12 state police troops will be putting as many troopers on the road this weekend as possible,” Sadler explained.
Along with Sadler, local police officials are encouraging motorists to call 911 emergency services or local enforcement agencies to report erratic drivers and drivers suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Those traveling in Saline County this holiday weekend should be mindful of the [Williams] verdict,” Casady said. “Before motorists drink and drive, they need to be aware they are putting themselves and others on the road at risk.”
Saline County Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Andy Gill and Brian Clary represented the state in this case and local attorneys Richard Mattison and Justin Eisele represented Williams. |
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