On December 7, Richmond City Councilman E. Martin Jewell pleaded no contest to a charge of driving under the influence in October and issued an apology to his constituents.
Richmond General District Court Judge Randy Rowlett fine the 5th District council member $500, with $250 suspended, and imposed a suspended 90-day prison sentence. He also suspended Jewell’s license for 12 months, but provided exceptions for him to drive to and from work, including City Council functions.
Jewell was also referred to a 10-week alcohol-treatment program. His attorney said it was a standard sentence for first-time offenders.
On October 24, Jewell was pulled over and arrested by Richmond police at approximately 1:30 a.m. near Byrd Park. According to his attorney, his blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.11 percent, above the limit of 0.08, but below the 0.15 percent level that would trigger mandatory time in prison.
Jewell would not discuss details of the night of his arrest, but said that he and his son had attended a party at the home of a friend that coincided with homecoming weekend at Virginia Union University.
