BOISE -- There has been strong reaction to a story about a Boise man convicted of his 14th DUI. Many are asking, “How is it that someone with 14 DUIs is still behind the wheel?”
After two hours of deliberation on Tuesday, an Ada County jury found 55-year-old Terry Ash guilty of his 14th DUI.
Shelly Armstrong, the Ada County prosecutor handling the case, explained to us his history.
She said Ash's first DUI came 36 years ago in 1976. By 1993, he had eight DUIs. Each one of those were misdemeanors.
It was around that time, the mid 1990s, when DUI laws were changing.
In 1995, Ash received his first felony DUI. Armstrong says he was sent to a boot camp for DUI offenders.
In 1996, he got two more DUIs, one in Ada County and another one in Canyon County. The judge in Ada County sentenced Ash to five years in prison. He was eligible for parole after two years.
Canyon County sentenced him to five years in prison. He was eligible for parole after two and a half years. He served those terms concurrently for a total of two and a half years in prison. His probation for those DUIs ended in 2001.
In 2002, he got his 12th DUI, landing Ash in prison for another three years.
In 2005, Ash received his 13th DUI conviction, and spent five years in prison.
Ash’s 14th DUI happened on Sept. 4, 2011, when police arrested him for crashing his car near Kuna. Four hours after the crash, officers recorded his blood alcohol content at 0.13.
In all, Ash served roughly ten and a half years in prison for his last five DUIs.
Ash's attorney, Brian Boyle, says he is considering appeal options, but couldn't go into more details because of the appeal process.
We contacted prosecutors and attorneys, but no one would go on camera to explain how someone can get 14 DUIs.
Ash is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 22. Because of a repeat offender enhancement on the DUI charge, Ash faces up to life in prison for his latest DUI conviction.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Lost actor arrested for DUI...
Matthew Fox can't outfox the law.
The Lost star has been dinged with a DUI charge stemming from a boozy bust last week after being pulled over for a traffic violation in Bend, Ore., E! News has confirmed
Per the Deschutes County District Attorney's office, Fox was officially rung up yesterday on counts of driving under the influence of intoxicants and failure to carry or present a license, both misdemeanors.
The 45-year-old actor was pulled over on May 4 shortly after 2 a.m. after failing to drive within his lane and failing to use the appropriate signal. He was subsequently taken into custody after the officer determined that he was intoxicated.
He's set to be arraigned on June 7.
The Lost star has been dinged with a DUI charge stemming from a boozy bust last week after being pulled over for a traffic violation in Bend, Ore., E! News has confirmed
Per the Deschutes County District Attorney's office, Fox was officially rung up yesterday on counts of driving under the influence of intoxicants and failure to carry or present a license, both misdemeanors.
The 45-year-old actor was pulled over on May 4 shortly after 2 a.m. after failing to drive within his lane and failing to use the appropriate signal. He was subsequently taken into custody after the officer determined that he was intoxicated.
He's set to be arraigned on June 7.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Former Washington State standout pitcher arrested for DUI issues apology...
Red Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks has apologized for ''distractions'' caused by his arrest in Florida on charges of driving under the influence.
He was arrested Friday after a sheriff's deputy saw his SUV driving erratically in Fort Myers, Fla. Jenks was released on bail.
An arrest report says Jenks told the deputy he took ''too many muscle relaxers.'' The deputy said Jenks was shaking uncontrollably and had a difficult time speaking.
The report says Jenks also told the deputy he hit another car at a strip club. The deputy found some damage on his bumper.
“I am embarrassed by the situation and apologize to my teammates and to the Red Sox organization for any distractions I may have caused," Jenks said in a statement. "I still need to let the legal process run its course and until it does, I will not be able to make any further comment.”
Jenks said he will not comment further.He was arrested Friday after a sheriff's deputy saw his SUV driving erratically in Fort Myers, Fla. Jenks was released on bail.
An arrest report says Jenks told the deputy he took ''too many muscle relaxers.'' The deputy said Jenks was shaking uncontrollably and had a difficult time speaking.
The report says Jenks also told the deputy he hit another car at a strip club. The deputy found some damage on his bumper.
Monday, March 12, 2012
DUI Laws expanded...
SEATTLE -- While legislators in Olympia haggled over ways to close the budget shortfall, they agreed on at least one thing, unanimously passing a bill cracking down on people driving under the influence. "You can't always stop people from being, becoming impaired, but this is a way to stop them from getting behind the wheel and driving," said Amy Freedheim of the King County Prosecutor's Office.
The legislation expanded DUI laws to include huffing, the act of inhaling chemicals to get high. It would also make it tougher to fool an ignition Breathalyzer.
The new law could force offenders to pay for cameras that prove they're the ones taking the test instead of a sober friend or family member.
"The fixes the Legislature is doing strengthen our impaired driving laws, making our streets safer," Freedheim said.
Advocates for stronger DUI laws applaud the bill.
Fifteen-year-old Kelsey Parret was killed in 2010 while walking on the shoulder of a road in Pierce County. Court documents say the driver appeared drunk. The suspect pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, and was sentenced to four years in prison.
"Your child is taken away forever, and he'll go to jail for two years. Doesn't seem fair," said Amy Glassburn, the victim's mother.
Parents and legislators hope these new laws will give him and other offenders pause before possibly re-offending.
"I'm glad that they're working on it, and that they're working so hard," said Glassburn.
Kelsey's parents think tougher sentencing guidelines are the next step to prevent DUIs, but say this new bill is driving home the point: drunk driving won't be taken lightly.
The new legislation has been delivered to the governor's office. The bill's supporters say she is expected to sign it.
The legislation expanded DUI laws to include huffing, the act of inhaling chemicals to get high. It would also make it tougher to fool an ignition Breathalyzer.
The new law could force offenders to pay for cameras that prove they're the ones taking the test instead of a sober friend or family member.
"The fixes the Legislature is doing strengthen our impaired driving laws, making our streets safer," Freedheim said.
Advocates for stronger DUI laws applaud the bill.
Fifteen-year-old Kelsey Parret was killed in 2010 while walking on the shoulder of a road in Pierce County. Court documents say the driver appeared drunk. The suspect pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, and was sentenced to four years in prison.
"Your child is taken away forever, and he'll go to jail for two years. Doesn't seem fair," said Amy Glassburn, the victim's mother.
Parents and legislators hope these new laws will give him and other offenders pause before possibly re-offending.
"I'm glad that they're working on it, and that they're working so hard," said Glassburn.
Kelsey's parents think tougher sentencing guidelines are the next step to prevent DUIs, but say this new bill is driving home the point: drunk driving won't be taken lightly.
The new legislation has been delivered to the governor's office. The bill's supporters say she is expected to sign it.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Hines Ward reached plea deal on DUI charge...
(Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors on Wednesday dropped a drunken driving charge against Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who instead pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to probation.
A Georgia judge ordered the National Football League star to serve 12 months of probation and perform 80 hours of community service, said Emily Gest, spokeswoman for the DeKalb County solicitor-general.
Ward, a 35-year-old, two-time Super Bowl champion, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol in the early morning hours of July 9. In a statement released at the time, he denied being impaired.
Prosecutors dropped the drunken driving charge in exchange for Ward's plea, Gest said. He also pleaded no contest to a charge of failing to maintain his lane, commonly known as swerving, according to a statement by the solicitor.
Ward was fined $2,000. He will have to undergo an evaluation for alcohol abuse and will be required to undergo any treatment recommended, the statement said.
He will be allowed to check in with his probation officer by phone or email, which is standard practice for defendants who live out of state.
Ward, a Georgia native, was drafted in 1998. He has been selected for the Pro Bowl four times and is a former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. Ward is the all-time leader in career catches for the Steelers.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)