"I'd a drop taken."
Posted on 12/18/2002 7:29:07 AM PST by Printers Angel
A Franklin County judge who has been arrested eight times -- most recently Sunday while on vacation in Florida -- says two drunken-driving charges in three years are forcing him to evaluate whether he has a drinking problem.
"I definitely am going to have myself evaluated,'' Judge John A. Connor said from Florida yesterday. "What I do from there, I guess, depends on the evaluation.''
Connor, 62, who is serving his second six-year term on the Common Pleas bench, was charged with drunken driving Sunday night in Delray Beach.
A jury convicted Connor of drunken driving in Bexley in January 2000.
"There is no question in my mind that two arrests in three years, whether you're guilty or innocent, is unacceptable,'' Connor said. "And I take responsibility for it.
"I'm going to do the best I can to figure out what the appropriate thing is for me to do.''
Connor had been ordered to serve three days in alcohol treatment, and he lost his driver's license for more than four months after the conviction in 2000.
This actually is Connor's eighth known arrest on drunken-driving charges.
But the outcomes of most of those cases can't be found. It is certain that one case was expunged, but it's unclear why public records for the other cases are unavailable.
Connor has said he doesn't recall or care to discuss past arrests.
He also won't discuss the details of the most recent arrest.
Delray Beach police said that Connor was stopped shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday when an officer saw him drift left of center twice as he drove with his bright lights on.
Connor initially failed to pull over, police said.
They said that once the judge was stopped, he appeared to be confused and sluggish, and had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.
Initially, he said he hadn't had anything to drink, but then admitted to having had six or seven beers, police said.
The officers administered a field-sobriety test. According to that report:
* When Connor was asked to stand on one foot, he twice fell backward. A police officer had to catch him to keep him from falling to the ground.
* An officer had to explain to Connor three times how to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line.
* When asked to close his eyes and touch his nose with his fingertip, he touched his upper lip.
* Connor failed twice in his attempt to recite the alphabet.
* He refused to take a breath test.
Officers said Connor was cooperative initially but then "became verbally harassing at jail.'' Specifics were unavailable yesterday.
In addition to drunken driving, Connor was charged with failure to dim his high beams and failure to drive in a single lane.
Connor said he hasn't decided whether he'll contest the charges: "I'm talking to counsel, and that's all I can tell you.''
When asked whether the arrest would affect his job, Connor said, "I'm going to be sure that it doesn't happen again; that's all I can tell you.''
Connor's conduct likely would go before the Supreme Court's Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline only if a complaint were filed.
Connor's previous arrests first came to light in 1984, when he was called before that board.
According to his testimony before the board, Connor said he had been arrested and charged with drunken driving four times previously.
He said that the charges were reduced to reckless operation three times and in one case he was acquitted.
Connor was before the board at that time because he'd been charged with drunken driving -- for the fifth time -- and possession of cocaine. Arresting officers said they found 4.9 grams of cocaine in his coat pocket.
In a plea agreement, Connor admitted to misdemeanor counts of permitting drug abuse and reckless operation.
There are no records of that arrest or the four previous drunken-driving arrests.
There is a record of his sixth known drunken-driving arrest: The Bureau of Motor Vehicles shows his license was suspended in 1987 for refusing to take a breath test. But records of the outcome of that case can't be found.
All of those charges occurred before Connor was a judge.
Connor plans to remain in Florida on vacation through December.
No offense to our proud Irish-American FReepers, but here's indication #1 that the judge might be inclined towards a tipple.
I definitely am going to have myself evaluated. What I do from there, I guess, depends on the evaluation.
Let me save you the evaluation fee - you're an alcoholic!
I'm going to do the best I can to figure out what the appropriate thing is for me to do.''
Uh, quit drinking maybe?
Connor has said he doesn't recall past arrests.
The blackout excuse is not necessarily the best defense to a DUI charge.
He said he hadn't had anything to drink, but then admitted to having had six or seven beers.
He later explained that he wasn't lying. For him, six or seven beers isn't "anything"!
When Connor was asked to stand on one foot, he twice fell backward.
"Hey, I'm just driving my car, not auditioning for a role in Swan Lake!"
Connor failed twice in his attempt to recite the alphabet.
True, but he was able to sing the "Schaefer is the one beer to have when you're having more than one" song in a perfect Irish tenor!
I dunno, whaddaya think?
The concept of justice is lost on these people.
"I'd a drop taken."
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