A Culpeper town councilman will spend 30 days in jail after pleading guilty yesterday to driving under the influence of alcohol.
The conviction in Culpeper District Court was 64-year-old Robert "Bobby" Ryan's second in five years.
In a plea deal with special prosecutor Amy Harper, Ryan was fined $500 and given 90 days in jail. All but 30 days of that sentence--the mandatory state minimum--were suspended.
Ryan also had his driver's license suspended for three years, will be on probation for two years and was ordered by substitute Judge Steve Helvin to take part in the state's Vehicle Alcohol Safety Action Program.
Virginia State Police Special Agent N.R. White stopped Ryan just after midnight on Feb. 26 for driving erratically on Sunset Lane and charged him with DUI.
Judge Roger Morton and Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Close recused themselves from the case. Special prosecutor Harper is from Spotsylvania County; Helvin is a retired judge from Charlottesville.
Ryan served on the Town Council from 1994 to 2002 and was elected again last year. He will serve his 30-day sentence on weekends beginning June 20.
The councilman was represented by Culpeper attorney T.C. Lea.
Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com