Opinion ID: 1411045
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: State v. Debraeckeleer

Text: Respondent presided over the 30 July 1998 trial of State v. Ludwig Charles Debraeckeleer, Durham County file number 97 CR 32970, in which the defendant was charged with DWI in violation of N.C.G.S. § 20-138.1.  The district attorney had moved to continue the case because the arresting officer was not present. Defense counsel, Michael Allan Jordan, objected to the continuance on the grounds the case was somewhat old and had been previously continued specifically to get witnesses to trial. The case was called for trial later that same day. After the State presented its evidence, Jordan moved to dismiss the DWI charge for insufficient evidence because there was no evidence of an arrest, an assessment of the defendant's condition, or an assessment of the Intoxilyzer results. Respondent subsequently allowed Jordan's motion to dismiss. However, respondent then pronounced a verdict of guilty of careless and reckless driving. In making this ruling, respondent indicated that the State had clearly not met its burden of proof but that there was sufficient evidence to convict of careless and reckless driving. Jordan objected in open court to the guilty verdict and informed respondent that the defendant had not been charged with careless and reckless driving. Respondent indicated that he understood Jordan's position, but believed it to be reasonable and proper to convict the defendant of careless and reckless driving based on evidence of the accident, an odor of alcohol on the defendant's breath, and his physical appearance. Jordan later spoke with respondent in chambers regarding certain conditions of the order and reiterated his position that a finding of careless and reckless driving was improper. Respondent replied that he thought [he] had [Jordan] over a barrel, meaning to Jordan that respondent understood that he should not have entered the ruling. Respondent also indicated to Jordan that he did not think it was wise for Jordan to appeal the case because the State would probably get the missing trooper to court and Jordan would have less of a chance of winning on the DWI charge. At the hearing before the Commission, Jordan opined that respondent was aware that careless and reckless driving was not a lesser included offense of DWI and that this was common knowledge for those who practice in criminal courts in Durham County. Brian Beasley was the assistant district attorney for Durham County who called the Debraeckeleer case for trial before respondent. At the hearing before the Commission, he indicated that careless and reckless driving is not a lesser included offense of DWI and that he did not ask respondent to convict the defendant of careless and reckless driving. Beasley testified that he was shocked when respondent found the defendant guilty of careless and reckless driving. It was his opinion that the verdict was legally improper. Beasley also believed that respondent knew the verdict was not proper, as it was common knowledge that careless and reckless driving was not a lesser included offense to DWI. He believed it was common knowledge because the case of In re Martin had been discussed in the news media's coverage of the 1998 race for the North Carolina Supreme Court. Beasley further indicated that he understood from In re Martin that a judge could not enter a verdict of careless and reckless driving for a DWI charge. In addition, Beasley heard respondent say he thought he had Jordan over a barrel with his verdict. Respondent testified that he found the defendant guilty of careless and reckless driving because he felt it was a horrible DWI and he was following the evidence that the defendant crossed the center line twice before the head-on collision. Respondent agreed that careless and reckless driving was not a lesser included offense of DWI but testified that the evidence was so compelling that he did not even think of that when he made his ruling. Durham County Chief District Court Judge Kenneth Titus testified that respondent knew careless and reckless was not a lesser included offense of DWI because of a conversation they had involving the Debraeckeleer case.