JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process: Tina: I was arrested in 2009 for a DUI. I obtained a
lawyer that I had also used for a DUI in 2003. He
advised me to attend AA meetings and find alcohol
treatment classes. I was sentenced to 10 weekends,
alcohol classes, random urine tests and 3 years
probation. While on probation, I was arrested on a
(violation of probation/probation violation) PV,
for aggravated assault in Pennsylvania. For that
violation, I was sentenced by Judge Susan
Hazlett,3 months. For that 3 month incarceration I
was picked up in MD on a bench warrant due to a
misprint in the newspaper.
JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested. Tina: For the DUI, 10 weekends, I totalled the vehicle I
was driving. The police were there at the scene,
paramedics had to pull me out through the
windshield. For the arrest on the PV, I was at a
friends house, there was an altercation between
two people and I wasn't involved. However, the
police were called and everyone had to prove
identification, I had none so I provided my SS#. I
was arrested and taken to HCDC and had several
court appearances before being extradited.
JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall. Tina: Formal, scary, LEGAL. I was familiar with legal
jargon, but never had to take it quite so serious.
It was all overwhelming, trying to absorb
everything that happened and not know what was
going to happen. When I was arrested in 2003 &
2009 for DUI's, I went to court from home so I
dressed nice. I was prepped by my attorney who was
extremely relaxed and confident and tried to put
me at ease. When I had to go to court once I was
arrested on the bench warrant it was completely
different. I went to court in jail black & white,
jail sandals and no bra. To obtain a bra I was
told to request one from the chaplain. To appear
in court I was handcuffed & shackled, a chain
around my waist and my handcuffs locked to the
chain. I was taken in through, I assume the
criminal door, and I was nervous what my
family/friends would think seeing me like that. I
was shaking like a leaf and trying not to cry.
JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of? Tina: The 2003 arrest, I was convicted of a DUI. I
received one year unsupervised probation. The 2009
arrest, I had several different charges. I was
convicted of DUI. The 2011 arrest was a PV.