Posted on 08/03/2007 10:41:03 AM PDT by SmithL
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — State Sen. Jerry Cooper pleaded no contest today to drunken driving charge and was sentenced to one day in jail and a year of probation.
Cooper, D-Morrison, was critically injured in a car crash on Feb. 7 when his sport utility vehicle overturned several times on Interstate 24 in Rutherford County.
Cooper’s accident came after he attended three legislative receptions in Nashville. He was charged with drunken driving and surrendered on a warrant that showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.18 percent. Tennessee law defines drunken driving as a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent.
General Sessions Judge David Loughry sentenced Cooper to the state minimum for drunken driving, requiring him to serve 24 hours in a private corrections facility in Smyrna. The time must be served within 30 days.
He faces several other penalties, including: Losing his driver license for a year; probation for 11 months and 29 days; a $350 fine; perform community service; and attend a state-approved
“He understands he made a mistake and he’s paid for his mistake,” his attorney Jack Mitchell said. “Truth be known, he was out serving his constituents and probably had a little too much to drink. He’s probably lucky to be alive.
Cooper will not have to pick up trash on state roadways for 24 hours, as required under a recently enacted law that he voted for in the state senate. Because of his continued medical problems from the accident, he will be allowed to serve those hours working for a nonprofit organization in Warren County, Mitchell said.
Cooper, who appeared on the court’s usual morning docket, answered a few of the judge’s questions and announced his plea. He did not make any comments about the case.
Assistant District Attorney General Allen Hale, who did not speak during the brief hearing, said the sentence was typical for a first-offense DUI conviction.
“It’s a typical day at the DA’s office,” Hale said.
In June Cooper was acquitted on all charges in a fraud case related to his 1999 sale of a lumber mill to an Alabama businessman.
Meanwhile a Republican Senator would get how long... ?
His own party would turn him into a pariah!
IIRC, first offenders in TN had a mandatory 48 hour jail sentence. Later, there was some community service trade-off.
When did this change to 24 hours in a “private” correction facility?
Unfortunately, I speak from experience. I also remember that I “learned my lesson” and that I promised that I never would do it again (which I haven’t). It didn’t make much of a difference with the judge. I guess I should have been “serving the people” in a political career..
What’s all the excitement about? After all, we all know there’s laws for them and laws for the little people.
“Truth be known, he was out serving his constituents and probably had a little too much to drink.”
Wow. Pathetic attempt there by the lawyer. Basically, he got drunk at a party and took off with the Jack. He forgot he wasn’t in McMinnville apparently.
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