Police in Georgia were called to the scene of a single-vehicle crash recently in Jasper County. The driver, Walter Rabon, the state’s Natural Resources Deputy Commissioner, lost control of his car and crashed into a ditch. Upon investigating the incident, Mr. Rabon was promptly arrested for DUI.
According to reports, this crash occurred on the Ga. 11, the evening of Nov. 19. Mr. Rabon, 48 years old, was in the northbound lane when he swerved in order to avoid hitting a deer in the road. His vehicle spun out and landed in a ditch. He and his passenger were uninjured the wreck.
According to the incident report, when a trooper searched the vehicle nine bottles of moonshine were allegedly found. Mr. Rabon was asked to submit to a breath test. His results came back at .146, well over the state’s legal limit. He was taken into police custody and admitted to the Jasper County Jail. The DNR has placed Mr. Rabon on administrative leave.
When Georgia state officials are charged with criminal offenses, the news is quick to report it. It is something that may move beyond a personal matter to a public one. This DUI charge, if prosecuting attorneys are able to obtain a conviction, can hurt Mr. Rabon in a number of ways, including the loss of his livelihood. With so much on the line, how he and his criminal defense attorney approach the case is really going to matter. Fighting DUI charges can be difficult, but with the right help it may be possible to seek a case dismissal or at least a charge and penalty reduction.
Source: ajc.com, “9 bottles of moonshine found during Georgia DNR official’s DUI arrest, cops say“, Raisa Habersham, Nov. 22, 2017