Felony DWI counts face three motorists
Three people are charged with felony driving while intoxicated, including one under Leandra's Law.
Amber C. Hedger, 24, of 14 High St., Adams, was charged with felony aggravated DWI by Jefferson County sheriff's deputies at 4 a.m. Wednesday after she was involved in an accident on Route 11 in the town of Watertown. She additionally is cited with driving at a speed not reasonable or prudent, crossing hazard markings and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.
Deputies said her southbound vehicle struck a utility pole shortly before 3:30 a.m. She had a blood alcohol level of 0.20 percent, according to the sheriff's office. A BAC level of 0.08 percent or more is considered proof of intoxication under state law. Aggravated DWI is charged when the BAC is 0.18 percent or more.
Ms. Hedger is charged with a felony because she was convicted of DWI in April 2007 in Watertown City Court, stemming from an arrest three months earlier. Her test result on that occasion also was 0.20 percent.
Forrest Dodd, 27, of 620 S. Washington St., Carthage, is charged with felony DWI and endangering the welfare of a child, cited by state police at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday on Route 26 in the town of Champion. The felony is under Leandra's Law, which became effective Dec. 18, because he was allegedly driving drunk while a 3-year-old passenger was in the vehicle, police said. His breath test result was not available.
Robert C. Copestick II, 42, of 543 LeRay St., Watertown, was arrested by Watertown police at 11:10 p.m. Wednesday at his home on charges of felony aggravated DWI, felony aggravated unlicensed operation, leaving the scene of an accident and making an unsafe lane change.
Police said he tested at 0.18 percent BAC, and that he is facing felonies because he was convicted of DWI in January 2005. The accident occurred about 10 p.m. in the 100 block of East Main Street, where his vehicle went onto the sidewalk and then hit a utility pole, police said. Officers allege that he and a woman passenger ran from the scene.
Also charged with DWI and related offenses:
■ Kristen L. Lawler, 18, of 31136 Vaadi Road, LaFargeville is facing six charges following her arrest by Watertown police at 12:20 a.m. Wednesday in the 600 block of State Street. In addition to DWI, she is cited with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, consuming an alcoholic beverage in a vehicle, underage possession of an alcoholic beverage, failure to obey a traffic control device and having insufficient taillights.
Police said she was charged with DWI despite having a low BAC of 0.03 percent, and she was not cited with driving while under the influence of drugs. Found in her car were beer and a spoon containing heroin residue, police said.
One of her passengers, Jordan R.J. Hines, 22, of 4835 Broadway Ave. E., was taken to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building, with bail set at $1,000 by Watertown City Judge James C. Harberson. He is charged with unlawfully dealing with a child and consuming an alcoholic beverage in a vehicle. Mr. Hines was sentenced last year to five years' probation for a third-degree burglary conviction.
Also arrested was passenger Derek J. Dwyer, 24, of 17120 County Route 53, Apt. 58A, Dexter, charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and consuming an alcoholic beverage in a vehicle.
A third passenger, Nicholas A. Deegan, 19, of 204 Maple St., LaFargeville, was cited with underage possession of an alcoholic beverage.
Mr. Hines and Mr. Dwyer, who also has a narcotics charge pending from an incident Dec. 22, are accused of providing beer to Miss Lawler and Mr. Deegan and allowing them to drink it.
Mr. Dwyer, meanwhile, was charged aggravated DWI at 3:15 a.m. Sunday by Jefferson County sheriff's deputies on County Route 53 in the town of Brownville. His test reading was 0.20 percent, according to the sheriff's office.
■ Cameron Carter, 41, Copenhagen, was charged by Lewis County sheriff's deputies with aggravated DWI and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle at 8:57 p.m. Wednesday on Gardner Road in the town of Montague. Deputies said they were following Mr. Carter's vehicle when he pulled off to the side of the road and turned on the vehicle's hazard lights, so they stopped to see if everything was all right. His BAC was 0.21 percent, according to the sheriff's office.
■ Kaitlyn M. Fuller, 21, of 820 Parham St., Carthage, was arrested Wednesday night for the second time in 12 days. Jefferson County sheriff's deputies also cited her with crossing hazard markings on Route 11 in the town of LeRay. Her test reading was 0.13 percent BAC, deputies said. On Jan. 21, Watertown police charged her with aggravated DWI, when she allegedly tested at 0.21 percent BAC.
■ David G. Parker, 23, of 29140 Depauville Road, Chaumont, was charged at 1 a.m. Wednesday by Jefferson County sheriff's deputies on Route 232 in the town of Watertown, where he was additionally cited with failure to keep right and crossing hazard markings. He registered 0.10 percent BAC, according to the sheriff's office.
■ Michael S. Pingrin, 28, of 49 Waggoner Road, town of Richland, was arrested at Demott Street and Harwood Drive in Lacona at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday, according to state police. He faces additional charges of driving without a license and having inadequate lights. Troopers listed his blood alcohol content as 0.14 percent.
■ Brandon R. Kutil, 24, of 12 High St., Adams, was arrested by state police on West Church Street in Adams at 1:25 a.m. Thursday and also was cited with failure to maintain his proper lane and having no front license plate. He tested at 0.08 percent BAC, police said.
