Culpeper Town Councilman Bobby Ryan dropped an appeal of his drunken-driving conviction today and will begin serving his 30-day jail sentence Friday.

Ryan pleaded guilty May 21 in District Court and was fined fined $500 and given 90 days in jail, with all but 30 days suspended.

It was Ryan's second DUI conviction within five years. According to court records, his blood-alcohol content was .17 when he was arrested just after midnight Feb. 26.

Under that May agreement, Ryan also had his driver's license suspended for three years and was placed on probation for two years. He was ordered by substitute Judge Steve Helvin to take part in a state alcohol-safety program, which Ryan’s lawyer said today that the councilman has completed.

The 64-year-old councilman was supposed to begin serving his sentence on weekends beginning June 20. But he appealed his conviction, despite the guilty plea, in late May.

The prosecutor demanded a jury trial, which was set for today. But just as unexpectedly as he appealed the case, Ryan dropped his appeal.

Ryan's attorney, T.C. Lea, asked the judge to allow his client to delay serving his sentence until Aug. 18, but the prosecutor protested.

After some legal wrangling, Ryan agreed to report to jail at 6 p.m. Friday

Ryan was first elected to the Town Council in 1994 and then was re-elected in 2008.

For more on this story, read Thursday’s Free Lanc e–Star.