Appeals Court Judge Allegedly Ran Stop Light, Nearly Hit Cop Car, Blew 2.5 Times Legal Limit
A New Mexico appeals court judge faces an aggravated drunk-driving charge after being pulled over in Albuquerque in the wee hours Wednesday and allegedly blowing a .20 on a breath-alcohol test.
The legal limit in the state is .08. Appeals Court Judge Robert Eugene Robles was also charged with reckless driving, reports the Las Cruces Sun-News.
The Albuquerque Journal (sub. req.) says Robles was pulled over after he allegedly ran a stop light at 50 mph and nearly hit a police vehicle. The officer at the wheel said he had to drive onto a sidewalk to avoid being struck.
“It’s been a sad and lonely night,” a Metropolitan Court criminal complaint says Robles told an arresting officer.
He has voluntarily taken an unpaid leave of absence from the appellate court and self-reported to the state Judicial Standards Commission, appeals court Chief Judge Celia Foy-Castillo tells the Albuquerque newspaper.
An Albuquerque native, the 60-year-old judge was briefly jailed and then released on his own recognizance. He is a former chief judge for the state’s 3rd Judicial District Court.
The articles don’t include any comment from Robles or his legal counsel.
