This morning's stories.
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-758589.html
Lacrosse player pleads guilty to DWI
BY BETH VELLIQUETTE : The Herald-Sun
bvelliquette@heraldsun.com
Aug 4, 2006 : 8:57 pm ET
CHAPEL HILL -- A Duke lacrosse player charged with driving while impaired has pleaded guilty in Orange County Criminal District Court.
In exchange for his DWI plea, Matthew Peter Wilson, 21, of 26 Oak Drive, Durham, saw another charge -- possession of marijuana -- dismissed.
Wilson, a member of the beleaguered Duke lacrosse team but not implicated in the ongoing rape case that has seen three of his teammates indicted, was stopped on East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill on May 24 at about 2:50 a.m. after he was alleged to have run a red light. Wilson performed poorly on a field sobriety test and later registered a blood alcohol content of 0.21 on a breath test, nearly three times North Carolina's legal limit of 0.08.
Wilson pleaded guilty to a Level 4 DWI, the second-most serious level of driving while impaired, on July 20.
District Court Judge Alonzo Coleman sentenced Wilson to 30 days in jail but suspended the sentence and placed Wilson on probation for 12 months. As part of his probation, Wilson also had to pay $110 in court costs, pay a $100 fine and pay a $200 community service fee.
He must also complete 24 hours of community service within 90 days and write a five-page book report.
When police stopped Wilson, the officer searched the 2002 Lincoln he was driving and discovered a small amount of marijuana and a glass pipe in the vehicle, leading to the additional charge of possession of marijuana.
In exchange for Wilson's Level 4 DWI plea, Assistant District Attorney Beverly Scarlett dismissed the marijuana charge, but as a condition of his probation. The judge also required Wilson to have a substance abuse assessment and, if recommended, undergo substance abuse treatment, for which Scarlett said Wilson had already registered.
In addition, Wilson was ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle. The device requires Wilson to breathe through a tube into a monitor that measures blood alcohol content before attempting to drive. The device locks the vehicle's ignition and prevents it from starting if any alcohol is detected on his breath. He is prohibited from driving any vehicle without the ignition interlock device, according to state law.
Wilson is permitted to drive only for work-related or educational purposes during standard working hours, for maintenance of his household, for community service obligations, for alcohol and drug education traffic school and for substance abuse assessment or treatment.
Wilson was a midfielder on the nationally ranked 2005-06 Duke lacrosse team that has been in the national spotlight following the three rape indictments. His arrest for drunken driving came at a time in which the lacrosse program was already combating the portrayal of its members as out-of-control party boys.
Wilson came to court prepared to plead guilty just two months after he was charged, an oddity in a system in which typical DWI cases take between six and nine months to adjudicate, Scarlett said.
"I can't say it's normal or abnormal, but I will say that to me it would suggest his ability to accept responsibility for his behavior," she said.
http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/hsletters/index.html#758441
Good job at Duke
Kudos to Coach Danowski for acknowledging Coach Mike Pressler for building the team that he will now coach. I know Coach Pressler did a great job building the Duke Lacrosse team and after all that he and his players have been through, it is nice to have his accomplishments recognized. Coach Danowski will do a great job for the team and I wish him the best.
K.C. KERCHER
Durham
August 5, 2006
Improve race relations with positive actions
What are we talking about? Racial problems have only begun here in Durham, unless there are changes in the attitude of all people and certain individuals.
The election had people going in the direction of their feeling toward race, and it showed in their results. I am a white dude, as some people would say, and voted for the person I thought was qualified for the job, and not race. The numbers concerning who voted for what should never be brought up. That is racial.
The old and new school board members, I am sure, will do a good job, and should be given six months without interference to prove they are qualified for their position on the school board. If then, you are not satisfied with their actions, write them a letter like this, and tell them so, and how to correct their actions. Your grievances only hurt the situation, but your help will improve relations, ands that is what we need in Durham.
The DA is doing what he thinks is the correct way to do his job, but he talks too much. "Action speaks louder than words."
Now back to race. We are all Americans in this country. Forget about where your ancestors came from. Be proud to be Americans. There is an old saying, love makes the world go around. Try it, you might like it. Your children learn from you, and it shows in their actions, ways and intelligence.
Let's improve race relations in Durham with our actions and not words.
HOWARD C. BUCHANAN
Durham
August 5, 2006
Nifong's fair game
In response to Paul Geiger's letter of July 21: As a military veteran and criminal justice major, I'm very aware of the pros and con games of the judicial system. Prosecutors play "the dime" their way, so do defense attorneys all over America. It's been the norm for decades. They call it courtroom strategy.
I support District Attorney Mike Nifong and not just on pre-election promises. There are unsolved homicides, other sexual assaults and gang violence in Durham County. Who is more qualified to handle such a task than a veteran, tough and defiant prosecutor who was appointed by the governor of this state?
Nifong should not be judged on one case when he has yet to be given the opportunity to present that entire case in court. Judgment takes place for a prosecutor before a judge and jury. There are times when we can find ourselves on the wrong side of the law. It happens to the best of us.
So how can we avoid getting caught up in what Paul Geiger calls "the dime"? It's simple. Obey the law and most importantly, respect one another.
KIM BRUMMELL
Oxford
August 5, 2006
State Bar seeks to reinstate case
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/467744.html
Collin's Defense Has Not Been Flawless!
http://www.webcommentary.com/asp/ShowArticle.asp?id=gaynorm&date=060805
I wonder what political party Honeycutt and Brewer are members of.
The letters from Buchanan and Brummell epitomize the naiveté of many Americans. Totally clueless.
Another letter from KIM BRUMMELL - ALLIGNED WITH VICTORIA PETERSON (NBP SUPPORTER) ... 'nuff said.
http://www.triadblogs.com/ourheartsforyou/2755/SUPPORT+FOR+DUKE+LACROSSE+VICTIM.html
Jul. 20, 2006 - SUPPORT FOR DUKE LACROSSE VICTIM
Hi. My name is Kim Brummell. I'm an independent writer and author who has been following the Duke Case closely.
I'm in full support of the victim as I've attended one of the recent hearings in Durham. You can track the numerous letters I've written to the Herald-Sun. Go to Google.com and type in my name.
I'm in full support of the victim and Mike Nifong's handling of the case. I've also joined with Durham activist Victoria Peterson in hopefully gathering a support group of women. I've experienced in the military being a part of a sexual assault investigation oversees in Germany. I can imagine what the victim is going through.
Take care and God bless!
Sincerely,
Kim Brummell