Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Schoesler prohibited from imbibing
RITZVILLE – The 9th Legislative District senator pleaded not guilty Thursday, Sept. 12, on a charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol.
But Adams County District Court Judge Andrea K. Russell determined there was probable cause for the charge against 67-year-old Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. She schedule him to appear before her again Oct. 8 in the 210 W. Broadway Ave. courthouse
Schoesler was released on his own recognizance to a family member following his Aug. 31 arrest by citation at the Wheat Land Communities’ Fairgrounds, 811 E. Main Ave., after the conclusion of the Ritzville Rodeo.
According to Police Chief Dave McCormick, witnesses saw Schoesler walking unsteadily on a bridge over a swale at the fairgrounds at about 9:35 p.m. The bridge connects the fairgrounds to a field cordoned with stakes and rope for parking.
As he went to leave in his pickup, he backed into another vehicle twice, the chief said.
Responding police officer Matt Carlson found the senator sitting in his pickup, ignition off, McCormick said. With a crowd gathering and uneven ground to conduct a field sobriety test, the officer transported Schoesler to the police station in town.
There, he failed the field sobriety test and four Breathalyzer blood-alcohol tests, records show. His average blood-alcohol level was 0.14, nearly twice the 0.08 legal limit.
After failing the test and with the Adams County Jail closed, Carlson released Schoesler into the custody of a family member who took him home, records show.
McCormick said reports show Schoesler was cooperative with police during the entire time he was being evaluated and arrested by citation.
Schoesler represents the 9th Legislative District, including eastern Adams and Franklin, southern Spokane, Lincoln, Whitman, Columbia, Asotin and Garfield Counties.
Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.
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