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Saturday, December 29, 2007

Ind. Courts - "Carroll County judge charged with public intoxication"

The Lafayette Journal & Courier reported on Dec. 26th:

A misdemeanor charge of public intoxication was filed today against a Carroll County judge.

Judge Donald E. Currie of Carroll Circuit Court appeared for an initial hearing this afternoon in Boone Superior Court 2, where he is charged with a Class B misdemeanor, according to court staff.

A Boone County sheriff's deputy arrested Currie about 9:20 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 65 near Boone County Road 400 East. Further details of the arrest were not available today.

A more comprehensive story appeared in yesterday's Lebanon Reporter, under the headline "Boone County officer arrests Carroll County judge: A Carroll County judge had his initial hearing for public intoxication Wednesday." Drew Stone reports:
A Carroll County judge had his initial hearing for public intoxication Wednesday.

Circuit court judge for Carroll County Donald E. Currie, 49, Delphi, is charged in Boone County for a Class B misdemeanor of public intoxication. His case is in Boone County Superior Court II.

According to his case file, Currie was arrested by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department Sunday evening.

BCSD Deputy Scott Rolston reported he was driving onto Interstate 65 northbound from Indiana 267 when he noticed a black Volkswagen parked on the shoulder of the ramp and a man behind the car, appearing to be vomiting over the guardrail.

Rolston approached Currie, who said he was sick.

Rolston reported that Currie carried a strong odor of alcohol, and had red and blood shot eyes and spoke with a slur.

When Rolston asked Currie how much he had to drink, the Carroll County judge reportedly replied, “Too much.” Rolston reported Currie went on to say he was driving from Indianapolis and pulled over because he realized he should not be driving and that he had been parked on I-65 for awhile.

Rolston reported he then tried to have Currie perform a field sobriety test, but Rolston said he was unable to see the pen Rolston was holding which he was using for a field of vision test. Rolston then retrieved his blood-alcohol test kit, but Currie refused to take it.

Currie was then placed under arrest for public intoxication and taken to Boone County Jail. It was reported that on the ride to jail, Currie asked if they could stop to get some coffee. Currie also reportedly asked to get some coffee so he could “sober up” once they arrived at the jail.

If Currie is found guilty on the misdemeanor charge, he could face up to 180 in prison and fines of $1,000. His bench trial is set for March 28, 2008.

A Letter to the Editor from Judge Currie appears in today's Journal & Courier:
Currie: I take full responsibility

It is with regret and great embarrassment that I write this letter.

On Dec. 23 I was arrested for public intoxication in Boone County, Ind. It is an offense and conduct for which I take full responsibility. I offer no mitigation or extenuation.

There is no way to make it better or to make it go away; nor is there any reason to offer up any excuses. I made a big mistake, and for that, I am truly sorry. My conduct was shameful, and I am fully prepared to accept the consequences of my actions.

While I am embarrassed personally and professionally, I am most embarrassed and regret the pain and agony that I have brought upon my family. I also deeply regret that my conduct may reflect poorly on my community, a community that I have come to love, a community that deserves nothing but the best from those who serve it.

So, my one and only request is that any ill feelings and/or resentment be reserved for me, and me alone.

I hope and pray that this very hard lesson, one that I believe has purpose in my life, will make me a better, stronger and wiser person. I doubt that this will be the last error I make in this life, but I am confident that I will not repeat the same mistake.

Again, I am truly sorry for my behavior.

Judge Don Currie

Delphi

See this Dec. 18th ILB entry and the links re judges' arrests for drunken driving in Illinois and Marion County.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 29, 2007 02:18 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts