McHenry Deputy District Director convicted of DUI, surrenders license

Thanks to Miss M at BlueNC:

Today, I made the trip to the Gaston County Court House to observe the conclusion to Mr. Keeter's DWI arrest. One funny bit, one defendant blew a .21 on the breathalyzer while driving a lawn mower, lol! While waiting on attorneys in other court rooms to appear in lowly traffic court, the judge announced an early break. I went to powder my nose, and went back to court to wait on the end of the break, and court was in session!?!?!? As I walked in I heard Brett Keeter and my ears perked up. The attorney went over the charges, and stated that Brett had completed assessment, rehab, and some community service. The attorney also stated that he had letters from an officer of a MADD chapter, Gaston Co. Sheriff Cloninger and someone he's working with at UNCC. I didn't catch the name or position of the person at UNCC. The judge remarked that you know who your friends are when you get a letter from them. The judge gave Brett 30 days suspended jail sentence, 1 year unsupervised probation and told to surrender his license. The fine was $25 + court costs. After this matter was concluded the judge told the district attorney he could complete the break that had been shortened, earlier.

A couple things that seemed a bit odd to me. One the shortened break, not that I'm a conspiracy theorist, but interrupting a break in court seems like an odd thing to do. As a jury member, a break has never been cut short, but that is the extent of my court time (knock on wood). I was looking at the post on Keeter's initial arrest, and he had a Gaston Co. attorney, Craig Collins. It seems to me that I heard the judge mention Collins as Keeter's current attorney, but I'm not totally sure about that. Why is this significant? Why doesn't a Gaston Co. attorney know how to pronounce the Gaston Co. Sheriff's name?? When Keeter's attorney mentioned the Sheriff's letter, he said his last name wrong. I know how the Sheriff pronounces it, because I was giving out name tags at the county convention and I had to ask him his name. Doh! :)

And that concludes my first attempt at court reporting. Enjoy.
MissM aka Jane

Keeter DUI postponed to February

Giving me more opportunities to post this lovely photo.

McHenry Deputy District Director Brett Keeter blew a point one three on Labor Day weekend and twice his court date has been rescheduled.

Mark your calendars for February 5, 2008, morning session. Room 3B.

Arraigned Offenses for Case Number: 2007014558 CR
Arraigned Defendant Name: KEETER, JAMES, BRETT
County: GASTON
Court Date: 02/05/2008
Session: AM
Court Room: 003B

Offense Code Description Statute
5405 Traffic DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED 20-138.1
4477 Infraction FAIL TO DIM HEADLAMPS 20-181
9955 Traffic CIVIL REVOCATION DR LIC (30) 20-16.5

Pat's deputy district director rehabilitates his reputation not

If I wanted to assure the public that my point one three DUI was an aberration, behaving this way and having my PHOTO TAKEN might not be my first choice.

Oh, but Brett Keeter probably drank himself this silly during his Pat-ordered two-week job suspension. My bad.

Why not fire him, Pat?

Two week suspension? Why not fire Brett Keeter? He blew a point one three. That's not even close.

He's your field director, right? He's the guy you want people to turn to when you're not available. He's your personal representative to the people of the 10th district.

Could you explain to me exactly why he's now worth $55,000 a year of our money? In fall of 2004, you thought he was only worth $15,000 annually. Does he have something on you?

And look at this young man, your boy. He's scary. Fire him. He can live at your unoccupied condo in Hickory while he job hunts, if you feel sorry for him.

What with your problems with a former staffer pleading guilty for voter fraud, your friend Ralph Gonzalez being murdered allegedly by your other friend Jason Drake, your financial disclosure debacles and the ass you made of yourself nationally over earmarks, wouldn't it lighten the load to dump this one trouble-maker?

From Greg Flynn at BlueNC:

Citation Number: C8285970
Officer Name: SHELOR,M,K

Arraigned Offenses for Case Number: 2007014558 CR
Arraigned Defendant Name: KEETER,JAMES,BRETThttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
County: GASTON
Court Date: 10/10/2007
Session: AM
Court Room: 002A

5405 Traffic DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED 20-138.1
4477 Infraction FAIL TO DIM HEADLAMPS 20-181
9955 Traffic CIVIL REVOCATION DR LIC (30) 20-16.5

UPDATE: Thanks to Gordon at Scru Hoo for the Wikipedia blood alcohol link. By their chart, he had 7 drinks if he weighs 200 pounds. 6 drinks at 180, 5 at 160. Wouldn't you know you couldn't drive if you'd drunk that much?

UPDATE II: Looks like the North Carolina Young Republicans fired him. He's been a region IV director all year.

But now his name is gone.

Isn't it unusual for a deputy field director for a Congressman to be on the board of the Young Republicans anyway?

Two Young Republicans have told me that Brett's the one who pressured them to endorse Glenn Murphy for College Republicans National Committee chair.

They liked his opponent and Murphy already had one reported incident of unwanted sex act on a sleeping person (with his girlfriend in the room). Now, he's resigned over another similar incident.

Field Director Brett Keeter caught DUI

McHenry staff seems to have a DUI problem. Former chief of staff Jason Deans had a long list of driving infractions.

Now Pat has suspended his field director, Brett Keeter, for the same infraction, according to the Charlotte Observer's Lisa Zagaroli:

The deputy field director for U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., was charged early Sunday with driving while impaired by Gaston County police, his office said Tuesday.

Brett Keeter was suspended for two weeks without pay, McHenry's chief of staff Jon Causey said Wednesday, and he will be required to successfully complete alcohol education classes. He also has been ordered to perform community service with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Causey said.

I'm sure the mothers will be just thrilled.