Sam Donaldson breathes a sigh of relief after DUI charge gets dismissed, Sam Donaldson, veteran reporter and news anchor who's been a crucial part of ABC News since 1967, breathed a sigh of relief after a judge dismissed a drunken driving charge against him Friday. As reported by NBC 10 today, a Delaware judge ruled that police lacked probable cause to arrest 79-year-old Donaldson last December.
The Sussex County judge also stated that there was insufficient evidence against Donaldson.
The DUI charge stems from Dec. 2012 after police in Lewes stopped Donaldson for an alleged traffic violation. When Donaldson rolled down his window and spoke to the officer, Katie Couchman, she told him she could smell alcohol on his breath. Reportedly, Donaldson admitted to having a few glasses of wine at dinner earlier. After the officer came to the conclusion that Donaldson had been drinking and was indeed intoxicated, she administered a series of field sobriety tests which resulted in the DUI charge.
However, the recent ruling from Judge Rosemary B. Beauregard said that Couchman hadn't established probable cause to arrest and charge him.
Shortly after the favorable ruling for Donaldson, his attorney Eric Mooney said Donaldson was "extremely satisfied" with the outcome of the case.
Following the outcome of the case, Donaldson told arresting officer Katie Couchman: “You did your duty as you saw fit,” Donaldson said. “I bear no animus toward you whatsoever.”
The Sussex County judge also stated that there was insufficient evidence against Donaldson.
The DUI charge stems from Dec. 2012 after police in Lewes stopped Donaldson for an alleged traffic violation. When Donaldson rolled down his window and spoke to the officer, Katie Couchman, she told him she could smell alcohol on his breath. Reportedly, Donaldson admitted to having a few glasses of wine at dinner earlier. After the officer came to the conclusion that Donaldson had been drinking and was indeed intoxicated, she administered a series of field sobriety tests which resulted in the DUI charge.
However, the recent ruling from Judge Rosemary B. Beauregard said that Couchman hadn't established probable cause to arrest and charge him.
Shortly after the favorable ruling for Donaldson, his attorney Eric Mooney said Donaldson was "extremely satisfied" with the outcome of the case.
Following the outcome of the case, Donaldson told arresting officer Katie Couchman: “You did your duty as you saw fit,” Donaldson said. “I bear no animus toward you whatsoever.”
