ALBANY, NY - District Attorney P. David Soares announced today that SAMUEL BETHEA, 43, of Albany, was sentenced to a total of 4 to 12 years in State Prison before the Honorable Andra Ackerman in Albany County Court yesterday afternoon. BETHEA was also ordered to have his driver’s license revoked for a minimum of 18 months subject to the State Department of Motor Vehicles, undergo 3 years of mandatory Interlock Ignition Device, and pay fines and surcharges to the Court.
On September 18, 2021, BETHEA pleaded guilty to two separate indictments. The first indictment consisted of (1) Count of Driving While Intoxicated as a Class D Felony, and (1) Count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree, as a Class E Felony. The second indictment consisted of (1) Count of Driving While Intoxicated as a Class D Felony, (1) Count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree, as a Class E Felony, (1) Count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident, an Infraction, (1) Count of Reckless Driving as a Class A Misdemeanor, and (1) Count of Circumvention of an Interlock Device, a Class A Misdemeanor.
On January 1, 2020, at approximately 1:04 A.M., BETHEA was operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on Route 9W in the City of Albany. Officers observed BETHEA fail to stop at a stop sign near Mt. Hope Boulevard and initiated a traffic stop. An Officer noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from within the vehicle and requested that BETHEA exit the car. BETHEA failed several field sobriety tests and a roadside breath test registered a blood alcohol content of .203%. At the time of the incident BETHEA’s license was suspended from previous drunk driving incidents in 2011, 2015, and 2016.
Additionally, while the above charges were still pending, on February 9, 2021, at approximately 7:34 P.M., BETHEA was driving while intoxicated when he crashed into a parked vehicle in the area of Morris Street and Quail Street in the City of Albany. An Officer observed the incident and initiated a traffic stop. BETHEA sped away through several blocks reaching 25 miles over the posted speed limit. BETHEA ultimately stopped his vehicle near New Scotland Avenue and was taken into custody. Officers observed signs of intoxication and BETHEA refused chemical testing. Again, at the time of the incident BETHEA’s license was still suspended.
Vehicular Crimes Unit Bureau Chief Mary Tanner-Richter handled the prosecution of this case.istrict
For more information please contact Cecilia Walsh at (518) 275-4710 or [email protected].
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