By Karissa Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Rowan County Commissioner Jon Barber’s larceny case was continued Thursday until a visiting judge can hear it.
Barber appeared Thursday in Rowan County District Court on a misdemeanor larceny charge in connection with the April theft of a bottle of wine from a convenience store. He was represented by attorney David Bingham.
Judge Beth Dixon said in court that local judges had recused themselves from the case, and she set a placeholder date of Oct. 4 until Barber can be scheduled to appear before a visiting judge.
Authorities say that on April 10, Barber stole a $2.99 bottle of Wild Irish Rose wine from the Rushco store at 601 W. Jake Alexander Blvd.
The Salisbury Police Department reported an employee at the convenience store said someone stole a bottle of wine and drank it in the men’s restroom early on a Sunday morning.
Barber also was granted a continuance Aug. 2 in his driving while impaired case.
Barber was charged in May with driving while impaired, driving left of center and failing to maintain lane control after he wrecked his vehicle. The arrest warrant said he failed a field sobriety test.
Because he refused an alcohol breath test at the scene, he had blood drawn for testing and his driver’s license was automatically revoked for 30 days.
It is his second impaired driving charge. In 2008, Barber pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in a separate incident and was sentenced to two years of probation.
He admitted in May 2010 to a problem with alcohol after he resigned from his teaching job amid allegations he was drunk in a classroom full of students.
Barber attended an inpatient rehabilitation program for alcoholism from mid-May through mid-June of this year.
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
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