Drunken-driving Dropped Against Nicholville Woman

CANTON - A St. Lawrence County judge dismissed a drunken-driving charge Thursday against a Nicholville woman for a lack of evidence.

Leisa S. Ward, 45, of 923 Ferris Road, was charged March 19, 2009, with felony driving while intoxicated. The decision by Judge Jerome J. Richards came the same day the trial started.

After Assistant District Attorney Rosemary R. Phillips rested her case, with two state troopers having testified, Public Defender Mary E. Rain asked the judge to dismiss the charge. Judge Richards ruled that prosecutors did not prove their case.

"This was a difficult case for the prosecution from the beginning," Ms. Rain said. "That's why my client went to trial. The prosecution couldn't establish when she had driven home."

Ms. Rain said troopers testified that they responded to a domestic call after Mrs. Ward's husband, Peter, called emergency dispatchers. He reported his wife was breaking windows at their home and was intoxicated.

She registered a 0.14 percent blood alcohol content when later tested by troopers. Mr. Ward didn't take the stand as a prosecution witness.

"They (the troopers) did not see her driving the vehicle," Ms. Rain said.

Mrs. Ward has six drunken driving convictions, three for driving while ability impaired and three DWIs, attorneys said.

Ms. Phillips declined to comment.