As reported by the Salem News, a man that argued throughout his arrest following an OUI-fueled accident, and argued again during his court proceedings, has been found guilty, had his bail revoked and now awaits sentencing.
C.S., 53, drove his Ford F-350 – equipped with a plow mount – into the back of a Volkswagen Beetle on Route 128, and then proceeded to continue to push the Volkswagen forward over 150 yards before stopping.
C.S.'s trial and sentencing is set for late September. The jury took approximately four hours to come to the decision that he was driving drunk when the accident occurred on May 27, 2012.
B.B., the driver of the Volkswagen, testified that she was headed toward Exit 43 when her car was struck. When she realized that the cars did not dislodge she became fearful because a large metal hook had landed inches above her head. B.B., whose teenage daughter was a passenger in her car, became very concerned about the danger to them both.
B.B. told jurors, "I didn't think we were going to survive."
B.B. had been showered with bits of broken glass and following the accident she was taken to a hospital to treat the cuts she had sustained.
When C.S. testified he laid the blame for the collision on B.B.'s driving. He argued that "her car flew in front of me."
C.S.'s public defender, William Martin, said that his client was simply a victim of "jaded" police officers that had "jumped to conclusions" about C.S. because he wasn't dressed well – C.S. is a house painter and was wearing his work clothes.
In defense of his client Martin said that because C.S. "felt like he was being railroaded" during his arrest he expressed himself as "not the most polite, endearing person."
During his testimony C.S. claimed to have consumed two beers with his lunch hours before the accident. However, asked prosecutor Kel Forlizzi, if that were the case why did he smell of alcohol four hours afterward?
Forlizzi also reminded jurors that three eyewitnesses testified as to what they saw occur during and after the accident.
State Trooper C.F. testified that C.S.'s eyes were glassy, he couldn't recite the alphabet or walk nine steps in a straight line during the sobriety test.
At the scene C.S. didn't mention the need of medical care or seek it out. However, during the trial he told jurors that he had sustained broken teeth and a head injury in the collision.
After his arrest C.S. was argumentative, banged his own head and sang the song, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, at the police station. Forlizzi stated that his behavior was further attestation of his drunkenness.
Trooper C.F. testified that C.S. said, "I'm (expletive)" at least 15 times; once in reply to the request that he take a Breathalyzer test.
Whether you are facing charges of DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI, contact a DUI attorney to represent you in court. No matter how you feel about the arrest or the charges, how you handle yourself in court may effect the outcome of your case.