According to the Mercury News, an exotic dancer charged with DUI has received a judge's approval to forgo a public defender and use what little understanding she has of "legal language" to represent herself.
Common Pleas Court Judge Patrick Carmody will allow M.B. a non-jury trial on charges of DUI and other charges. M.B. told the court, "I don't want to be Johnnie Cochran or anything. I just want the chance to tell my side of the story and ask the court for leniency, if that's all right."
Allegedly M.B. was ill-prepared financially to cover the $2,000 fee quoted by an attorney to take her case as she "was thinking of something in the high hundreds" that would work within her budget.
Judge Carmody made the suggestion that M.B. allow the appointment of a Public Defender to act as stand-by counsel; especially since M.B. admitted to having no defense experience or knowledge of legal jargon.
M.B. declined the judge's offer, stating her belief that public defenders don't have a defendant's "best interests" in mind. She also explained that she had been an English and communications student at West Chester University for some time – though she failed to graduate.
M.B. told the judge that she is a "self-employed entertainer" in a Philadelphia "gentleman's club" working "a little bit of both" day and evening hours.
The arrest affidavit explains that at approximately 8 p.m. on November 7 Coatesville Officer J.T. witnessed M.B., driving a 2003 blue Chevrolet, failing to stop at a stop sign at the corner of Oak Avenue and Chester Street.
Officer J.T. attempted to pull M.B. over, however, she chose to race away, weave, and then bring her car to a rest in a patch of grass. When the officer approached the vehicle and asked M.B. to show him her hands she allegedly told him to "Just give me my ticket."
The officer noted the odor of burning marijuana emanating from the vehicle, at the same time M.B. began yelling at him that he was a racist. He asked her to exit the car, to which she refused, so he then tried to remove her from the car and she resisted.
According to J.T.'s affidavit M.B. "was so uncooperative on scene that field sobriety tests were not an option" and another officer arrived to assist him. Both officers then forcibly put M.B.'s hands behind her back and placed a set of handcuffs on her.
M.B. refused to submit to blood tests, according to J.T., which would have determined if she was under the influence. A small amount of marijuana, and a marijuana grinder, was located in her car prior to its towing.
M.B. has been charged with DUI of alcohol or drugs, resisting arrest, fleeing and eluding police, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving under suspension. If she is convicted on the DUI charge alone she will face a mandatory prison sentence.
If you have been arrested and charged with being under the influence of drugs or alcohol contact a DUI attorney for help. Court proceedings, and the experience of a lawyer, should never be taken lightly.