Staff report
A Rowan County Commissioner has pleaded guilty to driving while impaired.
William Sherrill “Jon” Barber III, 47, of 335 Umberger Road, Mount Ulla, appeared in Rowan County District Court on Thursday before visiting District Court Judge Julia S. Gullett of Iredell County.
Barber, who was elected to his first term on the Board of Commissioners in November 2006, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, suspended for two years of unsupervised probation on the misdemeanor conviction.
He was ordered to pay court costs plus a $100 fine and do 24 hours of community service. In addition he must comply with the recommendations of an alcohol assessment that he previously completed.
Barber must surrender his driver’s license to the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles, but is eligible for limited driving privileges.
The case had been scheduled for the July 2 session of district court but was moved to Thursday to go before an out-of-county judge.
Barber was charged on Feb. 24 after he was found passed out in his 2001 Ford car near the corner of Sherrills Ford and Long Branch roads.
Around 8:49 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, Rowan Deputy Sheriff M.A. Dixon responded to a report and found Barber passed out behind the wheel. Dixon said there was a strong odor of alcohol in the car. The key was in the “on” position and both wheels on the driver’s side were on the pavement.
Dixon had responded to a call after a Salisbury police officer made the initial report to the county’s 911 center. The officer, who lives on Sherrills Ford Road, spotted the car near his home and notified 911, asking that someone check the location. He noted barking dogs at a neighbor’s house, indicating the driver might be waiting for someone who was up to no good.
Barber’s blood alcohol content measured .18, more than double the legal limit of .08.
Barber, a teacher at Southeast Middle School, later apologized to commissioners for the publicity the incident brought.
Barber also noted that the incident had led him to discover he has diabetes.