Small Town Police Chief Cleared Of DUI

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Posted: 12:23 PM Jun 10, 2008
Last Updated: 12:38 PM Jun 10, 2008

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VANCEBURG, Ky. (AP) - A judge has dismissed a DUI charge against an eastern Kentucky police chief.
The case against Vanceburg Police Chief Joseph Billman was
dropped last week at the request of a special prosecutor.
Lewis District Judge Brian McCloud granted prosecutor Michael
Wilson's motion after he told the judge the case lacked merit and neither he nor the arresting officer wanted to prosecute it.
Wilson said he decided to request dismissal after reviewing results of blood and urine screening tests following Billman's March 16 arrest in Vanceburg.
A state trooper confronted Billman in a convenience store parking lot where the chief had stopped to buy milk.
In an interview after his arrest, Billman said he drank six beers, but had consumed them over six or seven hours and maintained he was not intoxicated.

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Posted by: Wow Location: Richmond on Jun 11, 2008 at 12:18 AM
@Citizen on Jun 10, 2008 1st of tell your son not to drink and drive he deserved what he got 2 more and hes a felon for life so I hope he learns his lesson while hes young. 2nd did anyone expect anthing differant? Remember the politician drunk at a fair that taunted the cop by finishing a beer in public he was ordered to simply poor out? He had no one with him and his car was at teh fair with keys in his pocket. Yet of course he wasnt guilty and the cop had to tuck his tail between his legs like now. No wonder that stay so mad all the time when the ones that actually do their job are punished and the ones that dont are simply over looked.

Posted by: John Location: Frankfort on Jun 10, 2008 at 06:18 PM
If you all would read the story it states that there was a low Blood Alcohol Test. The limit it has to be is .08...even for police officers!

Posted by: Citizen on Jun 10, 2008 at 04:13 PM
Well, that's crazy. My son is paying a BIG price, no Drivers license for 90 days, $800.00 fine, Driving school $235.00. And a DUI record for 5 yrs. But we are not well known, just country folks who like Bud Light! And its good on these hot days.....

Posted by: disgusted Location: somerset on Jun 10, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Don't trust your soul to a backwood southern lawyer, because the judge in the town has bloodstains on his hands.

Posted by: Sick and Tired Location: Mount Sterling on Jun 10, 2008 at 02:15 PM
I use to live in Vanceburg, it is nothing new for the "big whigs" to get off the hook there. Was there not an alcohol test given before this man was arrested for a DUI????? That would have been enough evidence right there. No wonder there are so many people killed by drunk drivers, it is situations like this that give the message that it is ok for some people to go out and drive after consuming some alcohol. What a shame!!! I know in the small town of Vanceburg, KY is nothing for some of them to get by without getting in trouble for other things, not just alcohol, drugs and other illegal activities. I guess when you are someone in a small town that there isn't any job opportunity or much of a future for a town like Vanceburg, you can pay off the right people.

Posted by: jeff Location: ky on Jun 10, 2008 at 01:33 PM
the state police do thier jobs and try to keep "everyone" safe and treat everyone equally, then the buddy plan kicks in such as in this case. had this been a plain jane citizen, they would of been fined or possibly lost thier license. i have saw this so many times im sick of even trying to make a difference.

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