A television reporter who got her start in New Jersey – as well as her first DWI – has been sentenced in Evansville, Indiana, for a second DUI. The case first made headlines when Indiana prosecutors became aware of her 2014 New Jersey DWI and upgraded her charges to a felony.
It’s normal practice for a state to take into account past convictions in other states, but the jump from a misdemeanor with no specific sentencing guideline to a felony that could have put her in prison for two and a half years was notable.
Now, Veronica DeKett, 28, has been sentenced for the November DUI, where her blood alcohol level was registered as .19%, well over the legal limit of .08%. Through the magic of a plea bargain, as well as apparently earnest efforts on DeKett’s part to get and stay sober, her Level 6 felony was downgraded to a Class A misdemeanor, and instead of prison, she will spend the next year being supervised by Indiana’s alcohol probation services. She also forfeited her license for 90 days, and will be eligible to get it back if she continues with alcohol treatment.
It’s a much better outcome than it once looked like for the reporter. It’s possible that with an experienced DWI lawyer working her case in New Jersey, even years later, that the charges in Indiana never would have been increased. If you’ve been arrested for DUI with prior convictions in New Jersey, call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced DWI defense lawyer.
