Jurors convict two men with driving while impaired

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 20, 2018

SALISBURY — Jurors have convicted two men of driving while impaired in recent trials.

Jason Scott Adams of Salisbury was convicted by a jury last week in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court. Judge Eric Levinson sentenced Adams, a Level 2 offender, to a year in prison, which was suspended. He was placed on supervised probation for 20 months.

Adams was also ordered to pay a $400 fine and $1,197.50 in court costs; serve an active jail sentence as special probation; and maintain gainful employment or be enrolled in higher education or a skills program, among other conditions.

On Jan. 7, 2017, a State Highway Patrol trooper investigating a possible wreck on White Road near Goodnight Road found Adams in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with the engine running. The trooper said he noticed a strong odor of alcohol.

Adams was charged with DWI. He agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed he had a blood alcohol content of 0.16 percent, twice the 0.08 legal limit.

In 2011, Adams was convicted of driving while impaired in Iredell County.

Frederick Arnold Corey of Alabama was also convicted by a jury last week of driving while impaired. Judge Levinson sentenced Corey, a Level 5 offender, to 60 days in prison, which was suspended. He was placed on unsupervised probation for 18 months.

Corey was ordered to pay a $300 fine and $627.50 court costs, among other conditions.

On Sept. 1, 2017, a state trooper responded to a report of a single-vehicle wreck on Interstate 85. The trooper said Corey was wearing a T-shirt stained with dirt and blood and he was not wearing shoes. The trooper said Corey had difficulty following directions, was unsteady on his feet, and admitted to drinking one beer. Corey said he was driving from Philadelphia to Alabama.

Corey was charged with driving while impaired. A Breathalyzer test showed he had a 0.08 percent blood alcohol content.

Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said she appreciated the work of Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Lail and the State Highway Patrol in holding Adams and Corey accountable for their criminal conduct.