A woman's plea bargain in a DUI case allowed for a charge of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving drunk as well as a charge for endangering the welfare of children to both be dismissed; she was credited for her time already served, and now faces court supervision alone, as reported by the Journal Register.
The woman, M.N., 45, admitted to DUI in a one-vehicle crash – with her two young children riding as passengers – that ended when she drove her car into a tree at approximately 7 p.m. on May 16, 2011 in Pennsburg.
M.N., a resident of the 2000 block of Esten Road in Quakertown, received her sentence on July 16.
The sentence spelled out that 72 hours to six months – for time already served – would be in exchange for her guilty plea for DUI and recklessly endangering other persons.
The time served – M.N. had completed 7 weeks of inpatient treatment – was credited by Judge Steven T. O'Neill. According to court documents, the judge then immediately paroled M.N.
Conditions of the sentence, ordered by the judge, include the completion of 48 hours of community service and a two-year probation.
Upper Perk police state that after the crash M.N.'s blood alcohol percent was 0.255 percent, making it three times over the legal limit allowed to operative a vehicle.
According to the police, M.N. drive a Chevrolet Suburban southbound on Seminary Street and, as she approached Second Street, her vehicle veered away from the street and toward the sidewalk.
The vehicle then went onto the sidewalk and struck several objects: a fire hydrant, a utility pole and a parked motorcycle. The Suburban came to a rest once it drove head-on into a tree.
Police discovered M.N. unresponsive at the scene. As her body lay draped over the steering wheel, police noted that all of the vehicle airbags had deployed. Then they overheard the cries of children.
Upper Perk police Sgt. F.R.S. wrote in his report, "Police heard children in the rear of the vehicle crying. After confirming that entry could not be made through any of the doors, police smashed out the rear driver's side window with a nightstick."
M.N.'s two young daughters, aged 3 and 6, were removed through the Suburban's broken window. Police stated that both girls suffered injuries to their faces. Once police extricated M.N. from the vehicle all three were taken to the Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment.
Paramedics that transferred M.N., as well as the hospital personnel, detected the odor of alcohol coming from M.N. Officers then administered blood tests to check her blood alcohol content.
In this story you can see how charges stemming from DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI can be reduced with effective plea bargains. Contact a DUI attorney to discuss you own case. Sentencing can include the loss of driving privileges, fines, restitution, treatment for alcohol, community service and jail time.