California Highway Patrol Busts Head of DUI Program…for DUI!
According to wire service reports, on Friday May 29th, the California Highway Patrol arrested Thomas Newell, Sonoma County's top DUI enforcer, for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Newell had been driving a Mercedes-Benz on Bodega Highway in Santa Rosa, when a firefighter saw his car weaving recklessly. The firefighter alerted police, who pulled Newell over and arrested him.
In a statement recently released, Newell denied the charges. He claimed that his reckless driving had been brought on by a sudden illness. Newell is currently taking a variety of prescription medications to manage persistent pain brought on by hip replacement and knee surgeries. Police toxicology tests are pending--when results come back, authorities should be able to gauge whether Newell's defense holds up.
Newell's supervisor, Gino Giannavola, issued a written statement that Newell has been placed temporarily on leave pending the charges. Giannavola has not elaborated or responded to subsequent requests for information, citing the fact that the situation is an internal personnel matter.
If Newell is convicted, there is a good likelihood that he will lose his position as Sonoma County Department of Health Services' Supervisor for Drug and Alcohol Services. He may also face of fines of $1,000 or more as well as a driver's license suspension and jail time.
While some people might be tempted to flay Newell as a "hypocrite" for enforcing laws which he himself failed to obey, it's important to look beyond the superficial facts reported by the media. The truth is that police don't yet know whether Newell's defense will hold water--yet assumptions of his guilt have already manifested in the form of rumors and innuendo.
The takeaway is that it's never fair to judge a case based on superficial evidence--unfortunately, many DUI defendants are automatically presumed guilty in the court of public opinion. The good news is that the Law Offices of Stephen Brodsky can help DUI defendants have their arguments heard. To learn how to react effectively to your DUI charges, peruse www.CriminalAttorneySanDiego.com.
