Judge Currie arrested for public intoxication

Currie Carroll Circuit Court Judge Donald E. Currie, 49, of Delphi, was arrested in Boone County on I-65 at 7:10 p.m. Dec. 23 for public intoxication.

The police report indicates Boone County Deputy Scott Rolston was enroute to a vehicle which had slid off the road in the inclement weather. Rolston stopped at the 133-mile marker when he spotted Currie out of his car and bent over the guardrail vomiting.

"While speaking to the subject, I smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath and person. His eyes were red and bloodshot and his speech was slurred," read the report. "...he stated he had driven here from Indianapolis and realized he should not be driving...While speaking to him, he stumbled several times trying to gain his balance."

"I asked Mr. Currie to perform field sobriety tests...I explained the directions and began the tests. Mr. Currie stated that he could not see my pen, which I was using as a stylus...I attempted to reposition Mr. Currie several times so he could see my pen. Each time he stated he could not see it, so I stopped the test. Due to the inclement weather, I did not test on the Walk and Turn or the One Leg Stand...I asked Mr. Currie if he would take a PBT (portable Breathalyzer test) and he responded "no." I then placed Mr. Currie under arrest for public intoxication."

"While waiting for the tow truck, I placed Mr. Currie in the front passenger seat of my vehicle. Mr. Currie asked if I could just take him somewhere to get coffee...I then transported Mr. Currie to the Boone County Jail. While entering the drive...Mr. Currie asked me again if I could take him somewhere to get coffee. This time he also stated, "so I can sober up." Mr. Currie was then booked into the Boone County Jail."

According to court documents, Currie waived the right to counsel. He appeared in an initial hearing Dec. 26 and was formally charged with public intoxication, a Class B misdemeanor. A preliminary plea of not guilty was entered. A bench trial was set for March 28 at 9 a.m. in Boone Superior Court.

Currie is a judge advocate general in the Marine Corps. Reserve and will likely face repercussions of the incident if found guilty due to the uniform code of military justice. He could also face sanctions from the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.

Finding officials and police officers in their offices due to the holidays has been unsuccessful. And although Judge Currie is in his office, he is "unavailable" to the Comet, according to court staff.