A misdemeanor DUI charge has been lodged against a justice of the peace, that was to preside over a DUI court this year, when he presented at a police station stumbling, sweating, and disoriented, as reported by The Associated Press for Yahoo.com.
The judge, R.L., of Helena, Montana, was charged with just one of several DUIs that have belabored high-profile officials; at the same time Montana lawmakers are considering stricter DUI laws. The new laws take special aim at changing the attitudes of acceptance toward DUIs in Montana.
R.L. was charged with driving under the influence of methadone, which he denied during a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
Methadone is a synthetic narcotic used for pain relief. It is also known to prevent withdrawal symptoms from drug addiction.
R.L. stated, “I'm not on any drugs. There are several discrepancies in the complaint, and I'm sure when we get into court they'll be clarified.”
The incident occurred on the morning of November 13 when J.L. knocked on the lobby window adjacent to the Butte-Silver Bow County Courthouse, asking officers to let him in as he was due to officiate at a wedding. Officers noted that J.L. was sweating, disorientated, unbalanced and gave confused answers to their queries.
When asked if he was on some type of medication, J.L. said he was not. Later, he claimed to have taken Lorazepam.
Lorazepam, J.L. claimed, is something he takes to reduce anxiety when he is flying. J.L, when faced with a field sobriety test, performed inadequately. A blood test, taken later, showed methadone in his system.
In a vehicle search, officers located a methadone tablet. At his home, officers were shown an empty methadone bottle – and learned that 60 tablets had been prescribed for J.L. nine days before.
A bottle of Lorazepam was also found in his home.
J.L.’s wife told officers that her husband had consumed three pills before he left the house. She also told officers that the Lorazepam was diagnosed to help him get off of the methadone.
J.L.’s wife told police that her husband was “taking too many pills and (he) has a problem.” J.L., in response, told police that what she had made “a mistaken statement.”
J.L. is a member of the Butte-Silver Bow County DUI Task Force. The task force includes members of law enforcement, the courts, community leaders and businesses that have joined together in an effort to reduce the incidence of drunken driving in their area.
J.L. was due to rotate in as the presiding judge this October. He expects to be found not guilty of DUI and be able to keep his commitment in the task force.
There has been a delay in prosecuting his case, and, per County attorney Eileen Joyce, the delay was solely due to waiting for the investigation to be completed and did not have anything to do with politics.
Per Joyce, the county intended to transfer prosecution to the state. She said, “It's the judge that we work with and we wanted to avoid any potential conflict of interest.”
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