Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ID: 4760462
Publication Date: October 28, 2010
Day: Thursday
Page: A4
Edition: FIFTH
Section: News
Type: Local
Dateline:
Column:
Length: medium
The city's Home Rule Charter states any council member "convicted of
any crime classified as a misdemeanor of the second class or higher" must
step down. The charter also states that a member is entitled to a hearing
before council.
Warren was originally charged with a first-offense DUI, which would not
have disqualified him from council on conviction. Blake said his office
was unaware of Warren's prior arrest in Washington until it was reported
this month by The Morning Call.
Blake added that with a second offense, Warren would not be able to
plead to a lower charge.
Warren and his attorney, James Burke of Bethlehem, did not return
messages seeking comment on the charges. Warren did not attend
Wednesday's City Council meeting.
Asked if he would uphold the charter in Warren's case, he said, "Rules are
rules."
"I don't think we would have a choice but to do what the charter says,"
Fleck said.
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said last week that Warren's behavior "goes against
the goal of bringing respect back to City Hall."
Warren, 33, of 860 Cattell St. was pulled over about 3:30 a.m. May 6,
2001, at 300 Independence Ave. SW, a block from the Capitol, and
charged with driving while intoxicated and operating a vehicle while
impaired, District of Columbia Superior Court records show.
Warren, who was 23 at the time, was never prosecuted on the charges
because he completed an alcohol education and treatment program for
first-time offenders, court documents state.
On Jan. 23 of this year, Warren was pulled over about 1:30 a.m. in the
1600 block of Main Street in Hellertown after speeding past a police
officer monitoring traffic, according to a police complaint filed with
District Judge David Tidd in Lower Saucon Township.
christopher.baxter@mcall.com
610-778-2283