On Thursday, February 2, RC Sproul Jr appeared in Allen County, Indiana Superior Court to answer and plead to the following criminal charges:
The first two charges are Class "A" Misdemeanors, each punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 365 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. The second two charges are Class "F" Felonies, punishment from 6 months to 2½ years imprisonment. The advisory sentence is one (1) year and a fine of up to $l0,000.
In all RC Sproul Jr is facing, as a worst case scenario, 7 years in prison and $21,000 in fines.
Per the sworn affidavit of the arresting Allen County Police Officer Paul Heffner he observed RC Sproul Jr driving left of the center line, failing to maintain his lane, driving off the roadway, striking a curb, and weaving. He was also driving at 30 mph for at least 2 miles with a flat tire on I-469. When he was stopped, the officer observed that Sproul needed support to walk, he swayed, mumbled and had a moderate smell of alcohol on his breath. A chemical test later revealed his blood alcohol content as 0.175, more than twice the legal limit. He was also arrested and charged with endangering the lives of his two minor children who were with him in the car.
Today RC Sproul Jr pleaded not guilty and requested a Trial by jury. The court has set a trial date of June 6, 2017.
Judge Wendy Davis was assigned as trial judge. Judge Davis appears to be well respected in her community and, among other things, serves on the Board of Youth For Christ. In an interview she gave with the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette she shows considerable compassion for the plight of drug addicts and getting them the assistance they need, rather than just reflexively throwing them into prison. It's entirely possible Judge Davis will show similar compassion to RC Sproul Jr, should he be willing to acknowledge that he is an alcoholic, or at least acknowledge he has an alcohol dependency problem. However, should RC Sproul Jr force the court to go through with a full trial, and then be found guilty of the charges, he may find that her otherwise compassionate demeanor may evaporate.
RC Sproul Jr is represented by Patrick Justin Arata, one of the best DUI attorneys in the legal business, and certainly one of the best in Indiana. Some 70% of his legal practice is taken up by defending drunk drivers. Though Mr. Arata is very expensive he will, no doubt, be well worth it to Mr. Sproul if he can keep him out of prison.
- Operating a Motor Vehicle with Alcohol Concentration Equivalent to .15 or More (Indiana Code 9-30-5-1(b))
- Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated; Endangering A Person (IC 9-30-5-2(b))
- Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated or Controlled Substance: Passenger Under 18 (IC 9-30-5-3(a)(2))
- Neglect of a Dependent, defendant places dependent in situation that endangers the dependent (IC 35-46-1-4(a)(1))
The first two charges are Class "A" Misdemeanors, each punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 365 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. The second two charges are Class "F" Felonies, punishment from 6 months to 2½ years imprisonment. The advisory sentence is one (1) year and a fine of up to $l0,000.
In all RC Sproul Jr is facing, as a worst case scenario, 7 years in prison and $21,000 in fines.
Per the sworn affidavit of the arresting Allen County Police Officer Paul Heffner he observed RC Sproul Jr driving left of the center line, failing to maintain his lane, driving off the roadway, striking a curb, and weaving. He was also driving at 30 mph for at least 2 miles with a flat tire on I-469. When he was stopped, the officer observed that Sproul needed support to walk, he swayed, mumbled and had a moderate smell of alcohol on his breath. A chemical test later revealed his blood alcohol content as 0.175, more than twice the legal limit. He was also arrested and charged with endangering the lives of his two minor children who were with him in the car.
Today RC Sproul Jr pleaded not guilty and requested a Trial by jury. The court has set a trial date of June 6, 2017.
Judge Wendy Davis was assigned as trial judge. Judge Davis appears to be well respected in her community and, among other things, serves on the Board of Youth For Christ. In an interview she gave with the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette she shows considerable compassion for the plight of drug addicts and getting them the assistance they need, rather than just reflexively throwing them into prison. It's entirely possible Judge Davis will show similar compassion to RC Sproul Jr, should he be willing to acknowledge that he is an alcoholic, or at least acknowledge he has an alcohol dependency problem. However, should RC Sproul Jr force the court to go through with a full trial, and then be found guilty of the charges, he may find that her otherwise compassionate demeanor may evaporate.
RC Sproul Jr is represented by Patrick Justin Arata, one of the best DUI attorneys in the legal business, and certainly one of the best in Indiana. Some 70% of his legal practice is taken up by defending drunk drivers. Though Mr. Arata is very expensive he will, no doubt, be well worth it to Mr. Sproul if he can keep him out of prison.
This post first appeared on Spinderella Sproul: Lessons In Spin With Spinmeist, please read the originial post: here
