« Law - Various gay marriage issues in the news | Main | Ind. Decisions - More on: Transfer list for week ending Feb. 27, 2009 »

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Ind. Courts - "Terre Haute Lawyer Arrested for Drunk Driving Again"

Jon Swaner reports at MyWabashValley.com:

A Terre Haute attorney previously arrested for drunk driving was arrested by police once again for the same crime.

William Earls also failed to appear at his hearing in front of a judge.

Early Saturday morning, West Terre Haute police arrested attorney William Earls for driving while intoxicated. Earls not only failed field sobriety tests, the police report also indicates he was twice the legal limit.

During his court appearance on Tuesday, the judge said Earls initially made it to his hearing set for Monday, but he left and never returned.

That forced the judge to issue a warrant for Earls' arrest.

Terre Haute police caught up with his just after 9 p.m. Monday.

Earls offered no comment as he walked to court Tuesday afternoon. His most recent arrest is his second OWI in a year and a half. * * *

It's unclear at this time how Earls' latest arrest will impact his legal career. What we do know is that Earls faces stiffer charges now that he did back in 2007. The prosecutor's office charged Earls with a felony since this was his second OWI within a five year time frame.

The Indiana Disciplinary Commission also told us he likely faces additional discipline from the state Supreme Court. * * *

After his 2007 drunken driving arrest, the state Supreme Court disciplined Earls the following year. In the complaint filed by the Disciplinary Commission, they claimed Earls admitted to drinking six beers while awaiting a trial verdict to a murder trial in which he was prosecuting in Vigo County. That happened back on August 10, 2007. The commission also cited the October 22, 2007, accident that led to Earls’ arrest.

The Supreme Court suspended earls for 180 days, however they stayed the suspension, and placed him on 24 months probation. That probation period was to begin once Earls completed his criminal probationary period on November 13 of last year. The court further said if Earls violates his probation, the commission will not only move to revoke his probation, but also asked he serve his suspension without automatic reinstatement.

Earls has been entered into the jail linkage program, which is a six-week program with Hamilton Center. He will remain jailed for the duration of that program. Judge Michael Rader recused himself from the case, and a special judge will have to set a hearing date for the new charge.

Here are several earlier ILB entries on Mr. Earls.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 4, 2009 02:22 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts