on sale now at amazon

on sale now at amazon
paperback or ebook

Suspended Sullivan sheriff's officer faces third drunk driving charge



MONTICELLO - A suspended Sullivan County Sheriff’s corporal was released on Wednesday after serving 30 days in the Orange County Jail on a second drunk driving conviction but still faces a third misdemeanor DWI in Pennsylvania.

Cpl. Tim Murray, 44, of Glen Spey, was released 15 days early for good behavior, according to jail administration. The longtime officer still faces a charge stemming from an Aug. 27 arrest in Matamoras, Pa. Murray was arrested by Pike County, Pa. authorities at a DUI checkpoint at 2:28 a.m.

The recent jail sentence, however, stemmed from an incident on Aug. 20, 2010. Murray was stopped at 4:10 a.m. on E. Main Street in Port Jervis and charged for having a blood alcohol level exceeding .08. He was convicted during a bench trial on Feb. 22 and sentenced April 25 by City Court Judge Matthew Witherow to 45 days in the county jail. Murray was also fined $1,000 and a $395 surcharge.

Prior to that conviction, Murray was charged with a misdemeanor DWI on April 16, 2010, after he was stopped by Port Jervis city police on Pike Street. Murray was convicted by a jury on March 10, 2011, and sentenced by Witherow on Oct. 26 to three years probation, a $500 fine and $395 surcharge.

After the first conviction, his license was revoked six months and he was ordered to use an ignition interlock device.

Undersheriff Eric Chaboty said Murray has been suspended with and without pay since 2010, and currently suspended without pay.

“He is currently suspended and facing civil service charges,” Chaboty said.

Murray couldn’t immediately be reached on Thursday.