Former judge pleads guilty to DWI
Last updated Friday, January 26, 2007 6:33 PM CST in News
By The Associated Press
NASHVILLE -- Former district judge Jim Bob Steel, who is also an ex-prosecutor, has pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge.
Steel entered his guilty plea Jan. 18 in Howard County District Court and Judge Ed Alford sentenced him to one day in jail, which Steel served the day of his arrest. Alford also fined Steel $750, suspended his driver license for three months and ordered him to attend driving school. The charge was for a first DWI offense.
Steel was also fined $90 for speeding and ordered to pay court costs of $1,055.
Steel was arrested the afternoon of Jan. 12 by Mineral Springs patrol officer Jeff Witherspoon on Arkansas 355.
Witherspoon found an open can of beer in the vehicle. After being booked into jail, the former judge was released to his daughter.
The incident was Steel's second arrest in the past 19 months involving traffic charges.
In June 2005, he was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges after a traffic accident, also on Arkansas 355. Police said Steel's vehicle crossed the center line and struck a van. He reportedly left the scene on foot and went home, where he was arrested.
A felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident was dropped in a plea agreement. Steel paid an $800 fine, according to his attorney, Jeff Harrelson of Texarkana.
Steel also had to resign as Pike County District judge, which he did May 11, 2006.
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Government is People wrote on Jan 28, 2007 8:36 AM:
Not already registered?
not surprised wrote on Jan 28, 2007 7:56 AM: