A school bus driver in western Pennsylvania has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol while 12 students were aboard her bus. According to official reports, Patti Komack, 53, of Hopewell Township, other school bus employees contacted Hopewell Area School District Superintendent Charles Reina contacted police after alcohol was smelled on Komack’s breath the morning of April 23.

Komack has been charged with child endangerment. Another bus was dispatched to pick up the students on Komack’s bus. The students on the bus include those who attend Hopewell Senior High School and two private schools. The District Superintendant said that Komack is no longer employed.

Tests taken by police indicate that Komack had a blood-alcohol rate that exceeded the 0.02 percent limit for school bus drivers. The limit for most other drivers is four times higher at 0.08 percent.

Anyone who is facing the charge of DUI can also be looking to a great deal of harm to their personal reputation and livelihood as well.… Read More

According to State Police, Jared Schillinger, 30, of Indiana Township, was driving under the influence on Route 28 when he struck the vehicle of Rikki Fleming, 18.

Four witnesses testified during the non-jury trial that they had seen Jared Schillinger driving erratically just prior to the crash. All four witnesses saw the Jared Schillinger’s vehicle hit Fleming’s vehicle from behind.  The impact, according to the witnesses, was so powerful that Fleming was thrown from her car. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Schillinger, at the time of the accident, had a blood alcohol level of 0.231 percent – nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08. Allegheny County Judge Tom Flaherty ruled that because of Schillinger’s blood alcohol level and that investigators determined that he had been driving between 70 and 75 miles per hour when he hit Fleming’s vehicle, was guilty of the charge.

Schillinger is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6th.… Read More

A man from South Jersey has been convicted and sentenced to 32 years in prison in connection with the death of one boy and the paralyzing of another. He said in court that his own father had been killed by a drunken driver.

During his sentencing, William Liepe, 62, of Hamilton Township, said that fateful day in 1969 was the day that he himself began drinking.

According to court documents, Liepe had a blood-alcohol level of .19 in a three-vehicle accident in 2011 that took the life of 9-year-old Ryan Schleyer and left 11-year-old M.J. Guzman paralyzed.

Liepe, now convicted of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated assault, has been sentenced by a judge to 32 years in prison. He must serve a minimum of 27 years before he can be considered for possible release.

Anyone who is facing the charge of DUI, particularly when there are serious injuries or even a fatality involved, needs a competent and experienced legal defense.… Read More