Wednesday, August 5, 2009

School teacher admits to DUI

Plea agreement reached in pedestrian injury accident


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Jonah J. Torseth

A Wood River Middle School teacher and coach admitted Tuesday that he was an intoxicated driver when he struck and injured a female pedestrian in Hailey last December.

Jonah J. Torseth, a Hailey resident who was 33 at the time of the accident, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI in Blaine County Magistrate Court. The admission of guilt Tuesday was in accord with a plea agreement with the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Torseth was originally charged with aggravated DUI, a felony.

According to court records, Torseth's blood-alcohol level was .109 at the time of the accident on the evening of Dec. 30, 2008. The legal limit for drinking and driving is a blood-alcohol level of .08.

The accident occurred at about 9:10 a.m. near the intersection of Galena and Main streets. The victim, identified by police as Kim Liebich, a 40-year-old Boise woman, received severe facial cuts.

"I was driving under the influence," Torseth said Tuesday in court.

Magistrate Court Judge Jason Walker advised Torseth that a first-offense misdemeanor DUI is punishable by up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine and suspension of driving privileges for 180 days.

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Walker, a former Minidoka County prosecuting attorney, is the Camas County Magistrate Court judge but frequently assists with misdemeanor cases in Blaine County.

Walker advised Torseth that he is not bound by the terms of the plea agreement and can impose the maximum sentence.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Fredback told the Idaho Mountain Express after the hearing that under the plea agreement he would ask the judge to impose a 14-day jail sentence, two years probation and 40 hours of community service. Part of that proposed sentence would require that Torseth talk to student assemblies about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sept. 15.

Telephone calls to the Blaine County School District regarding the possibility of disciplinary action against Torseth were not returned by press deadline Tuesday.

However, former school district Superintendent Jim Lewis said in January that the district's policy provides that employees convicted of crimes can be "subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination."

Torseth is represented by Hailey attorney Douglas Nelson. He remains free on $7,500 bond.

Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com




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