Perry County Judge Dean L. Wilson is well known in the Columbus area for holding drunk driving trials to New Lexington High School each year as a warning to students not to drink and drive. Wilson is now facing public criticism as he was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, worse yet, leaving the scene of an accident. Both are first-degree misdemeanors punishable subject to a maximum of six months in jail for each.
Wilson, 60, is accused of driving a 2014 Mercedes-Benz (a loaner from his car dealer while his vehicle was in the shop) under the influence on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. He hit a COTA bus after changing lanes. He then sped away. Police used a helicopter to track him down. He then refused to take a sobriety test. His license was automatically suspended.
The DUI is unfortunately unique as a charge against a judge (and is no trivial matter) but the leaving the scene greatly magnifies the seriousness for a sitting judge.