LEWISTON — A local man was indicted on a charge of felony drunken driving stemming from a December 2015 accident in which his vehicle struck and snapped a utility pole.
An Androscoggin County grand jury handed up three counts against James P. Footer, 53, of 446 Pond Road, including criminal operating under the influence, a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. He also is charged with driving to endanger and operating beyond license condition or restriction, both Class E misdemeanors. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail.
Footer was driving his 1989 Chevrolet SUV southbound on Pond Road on Dec. 12, 2015, shortly before 7:30 p.m. He lost control of the vehicle, which left the roadway, struck a utility pole, jumped a culvert and struck a tree, according to an accident report filed at Lewiston Police Department. No other vehicles were involved.
The vehicle was towed.
Footer, who was alone in his vehicle, suffered head injuries and was taken by ambulance to Central Maine Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt.
Footer has three drunken-driving convictions dating back to 2006, which elevates the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony.
At his initial court appearance in February, a judge allowed Footer to be free on his own recognizance, but ordered him to refrain from use and possession of alcohol and to submit to random searches and testing for alcohol.
cwilliams@sunjournal.com
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