Man pleads guilty to accident charges
Published 9:42 pm Monday, April 11, 2016
A Suffolk man pleaded guilty Monday in Suffolk Circuit Court on charges stemming from an accident in which his two granddaughters were injured.
Bobby Trump Jr., 53, entered the pleas on one count of child abuse and neglect and one count of driving while intoxicated. A second count of child abuse and neglect was not prosecuted as part of a plea agreement.
The accident happened about 9:11 a.m. in the 1200 block of Willowbrook Drive. Officers were dispatched to Sentara Obici Hospital about an hour later because Trump had brought in his two granddaughters, ages 9 and 10, who had road rash. Trump told police officers the girls were riding in the back of his pickup truck and had slid out.
Prosecutor George Bruch said in court Monday that officers detected an odor of alcohol as well as bloodshot and watery eyes. Trump told the officers he had about 10 to 12 beers the night before and had his last drink about 2 a.m. He was arrested for driving under the influence at 10:47 a.m. A breath test at 12:28 p.m., more than three hours after the accident, registered a blood alcohol content of .12, well past the legal limit of .08.
Bruch said the plea agreement was offered based on Trump’s cooperation with the police. He never tried to recant his statement, shift blame or make excuses, Bruch added.
A sentencing hearing is set for June 20.