By Drew Stone/The Lebanon Reporter
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.
