A Glassboro, New Jersey, man arrested for a DWI traffic death in Gloucester Country late last year has been offered seven years in jail in exchange for a guilty plea — three years less than the maximum 10 years he could face if convicted in a jury trial. Charges of driving while intoxicated and vehicular homicide, combined with alleged evidence of cocaine (although no DUI charges were brought), make this a challenging case for the defense.
According to a recent report, attorneys for Arthur Anwar Jr. made a motion to have the court reduce his bail, but that has been rejected apparently due to the severity of the offense. At a bail hearing last Friday, Superior Court Judge Christine Allen-Jackson denied the motion to reduce the $75,000 bail, on which Anwar has been held since his arrest on December 21, 2008. The case remains open as both sides consider their next steps.
Anwar’s drunk driving arrest stems from a lethal accident that happened just days before Christmas. According to police, the 53-year-old and a friend had left the Down on Main Street bar in Glassboro and were riding in his 1997 Mazda 626. At about 2 a.m., the vehicle plowed into the back of a dump truck on Glassboro Road in Monroe Township. The crash was so horrific that emergency personnel had to pry open the mangled sedan to remove the passenger. That man, Arthur Davis, 24, later died from multiple injuries at Cooper Hospital in Camden.
Police reports show that Anwar admitted to being the driver of the vehicle; and that officers detected the smell of alcohol on his breath. Results from a subsequent blood alcohol test showed he had a staggering 0.205 blood alcohol content (BAC) — more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, as defined by New Jersey law.
Although it appears that drugs were not directly involved in the driver’s alleged impairment, Anwar was also charged with possession of cocaine. Police reportedly discovered the drugs inside the patrol car following the arrest. An assistant prosecutor for Gloucester Country, Laurie Cimino, stated that the police cruiser’s surveillance video camera recorded the suspect trying to get rid of the drugs.
Since every DWI case is different, there is no single approach to defending a drunk driving arrest. Because of this, we highly recommend that you retain the services of a New Jersey DWI Attorney. Our skilled team of lawyers is available 24/7 to help you or a family member with DWI, DUI, or other related cases.
No cut in bail for DWI suspect, NJ.com, April 18, 2009