Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Bribery does not work in DUI cases
San Diego DUI attorney news
May 27, 2008
A San Bruno police officer was offered a large stack of money to let a suspected drunk driver go, according to prosecutors who charged the vehicle’s passenger with felony bribery.
After the officer declined and called for back-up to handle the alleged bribe, the driver was let go — ironically, because he passed both the field sobriety test and a Breathalyzer.
Kelvin Hua, 26, however, was arrested and is now scheduled for jury trial June 23. Hua returns to court this afternoon for a pretrial conference at which he could settle the case or confirm the jury trial with the possibility of three years in prison if convicted.
Hua has been out of custody on $20,000 bail posted after his Sept. 29, 2007 arrest.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the vehicle carrying Hua was stopped on El Camino Real in San Bruno for suspicion of drunk driving. While the officer interviewed the driver, Hua reportedly approached the officer asked if they could be released because they lived just down the street. The officer declined and Hua reportedly showed him the stack of money and said he would place it in the patrol car if they were let go.
After another officer was called to witness the event and noted Hua’s money, he was arrested. The police discovered $1,400 in his wallet and pocket.
“I’m not sure how much of that he offered the officer but it was in the hundreds,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
The driver then passed the field sobriety test and a blood alcohol test showed a legal amount of .06.
www.sandiegodrunkdrivingattorney.net
May 27, 2008
A San Bruno police officer was offered a large stack of money to let a suspected drunk driver go, according to prosecutors who charged the vehicle’s passenger with felony bribery.
After the officer declined and called for back-up to handle the alleged bribe, the driver was let go — ironically, because he passed both the field sobriety test and a Breathalyzer.
Kelvin Hua, 26, however, was arrested and is now scheduled for jury trial June 23. Hua returns to court this afternoon for a pretrial conference at which he could settle the case or confirm the jury trial with the possibility of three years in prison if convicted.
Hua has been out of custody on $20,000 bail posted after his Sept. 29, 2007 arrest.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the vehicle carrying Hua was stopped on El Camino Real in San Bruno for suspicion of drunk driving. While the officer interviewed the driver, Hua reportedly approached the officer asked if they could be released because they lived just down the street. The officer declined and Hua reportedly showed him the stack of money and said he would place it in the patrol car if they were let go.
After another officer was called to witness the event and noted Hua’s money, he was arrested. The police discovered $1,400 in his wallet and pocket.
“I’m not sure how much of that he offered the officer but it was in the hundreds,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
The driver then passed the field sobriety test and a blood alcohol test showed a legal amount of .06.
www.sandiegodrunkdrivingattorney.net
# posted by SanDiegoDUI @ 8:52 AM 
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