BobBattleLaw.com

Tentative Date Set For Councilman's DUI Case

The DUI case of Culpeper Town Councilman Robert M. “Bobby” Ryan has tentatively been set to go to court at 2 p.m. on May 13.

The defense is in place, but a special prosecutor has not yet been appointed to try the case. Once that takes place, the date could change.

Special prosecutors are usually used in cases involving elected officials in order to avoid a conflict of interest.

Ryan and his attorney were not in General District Court when the date was set, and the case was only discussed in very general terms.

Ryan, 64, is facing a charge of second offense DUI after his February 26 arrest by an off-duty State Police special agent in Culpeper. Later that afternoon, he was released on $2,000 bond.

Virginia State Police spokesman Sgt. Les Tyler said that Ryan was stopped on Sunset Lane at approximately 12:30 a.m. after he was observed driving erratically.

Special Agent N.R. White wrote in a warrant filed in General District Court that he witnessed Ryan’s vehicle cross the center line 12 times. According to court documents, Ryan’s blood-alcohol content was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Ryan, a native of Culpeper, was elected to Town Council in May. He previously served on council from 1994 and 2002 and was vice mayor in his last two years.

Ryan’s previous DUI conviction came in June 2004, according to court records. He paid a fine of $250, paid court costs of $166, and had his license suspended for a year.