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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAn Allen County judge was arrested in Indianapolis for allegedly driving drunk and is scheduled to appear in Marion Superior Court Wednesday.
Indiana State Capitol Police, a division of the Indiana State Police, stopped a car driven by Allen Circuit Judge Thomas Felts early on the morning of July 18 for a traffic violation in downtown Indianapolis. As the police officer began to get out of his car, Judge Felts’ car backed up and struck the police vehicle, according to a police release.
The officer reported that he smelled alcohol inside the judge’s car and conducted an operating while intoxicated investigation. The judge was transferred for chemical tests and later transported to Marion County Adult Processing Center.
Judge Felts was arrested for operating while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor; and public intoxication, a Class B misdemeanor. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office formally filed the charges against the judge this afternoon, said spokesperson Matthew Symons. A hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Marion Superior Court 7.
Reached by telephone this morning, Judge Felts said he couldn’t comment on the facts of the case.
“I deeply regret what’s happened, and at this point, I defer to and respect the system that’s been set up … that is to take care of these matters,” he said.
Felts currently is president of the Indiana Judges Association. He was appointed last year by Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore David Long to the Indiana Commission on Courts for a four-year term. He’s running for re-election in the November election.
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