Ohio Judge Who Held DUI Trials At High School Is Arrested For DUI After Helicopter Tracks Him Down

Perry County Judge Dean L. Wilson is well known in the Columbus area for holding drunk driving trials to New Lexington High School each year as a warning to students not to drink and drive. Wilson is now facing public criticism as he was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, worse yet, leaving the scene of an accident. Both are first-degree misdemeanors punishable subject to a maximum of six months in jail for each.

Wilson, 60, is accused of driving a 2014 Mercedes-Benz (a loaner from his car dealer while his vehicle was in the shop) under the influence on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. He hit a COTA bus after changing lanes. He then sped away. Police used a helicopter to track him down. He then refused to take a sobriety test. His license was automatically suspended.

The DUI is unfortunately unique as a charge against a judge (and is no trivial matter) but the leaving the scene greatly magnifies the seriousness for a sitting judge.