NEW PALESTINE — The street commissioner for the town of New Palestine pleaded guilty late last week to a DUI charge relating to a vehicle accident last fall in Shelby County. Part of the sentencing included the loss of his driver’s license for several years.
Steve Pool, 59, 1000 block of Wilford Lane, Indianapolis, appeared in Shelby County Superior Court 2 on Thursday, Jan. 16. According to court documents, Pool admitted guilt for a Class A misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated-endangering a person.
Senior Judge Mary Willis sentenced Pool to 365 days incarceration, all suspended except 10 days, which he has served. Pool’s suspended time will be served on probation, according to court documents.
The court also ordered a two-year license suspension because Pool at first refused to submit to a blood draw for a toxicology screen; and a one-year suspension for driving while intoxicated. The suspensions will be served consecutively.
Members of the town council said they learned about Pool’s arrest shortly after it happened.
Council President Brandee Bastin said the council could not address Pool’s arrest until a judge finalized the plea and sentencing. Bastin said the council plans to hold an executive session as soon as possible to discuss employee issues.
“Personnel matters are confidential and need to be discussed in an executive session of the town council, and that’s all I can say at this time,” Bastin said. As of Monday afternoon, an executive session had not been scheduled.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Shelby County deputies were summoned at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, to a crash in the 10000 block of North Shelby County Road 600W. Deputies found a Dodge Ram truck lying on its driver side in nearby Sugar Creek.
Deputies suspected the driver, Pool, might be intoxicated, the affidavit said. They asked Pool, who they said “smelled of alcohol,” for his driver’s license, and he handed them a credit card, the affidavit said.
Pool, who suffered only an abrasion on his right hand in the crash, told deputies he had consumed five drinks at an establishment near New Palestine and was headed to the Indiana Grand Casino in Shelbyville to place some bets.
A portable breath test administered at the scene showed Pool’s blood-alcohol content was 0.115, the affidavit said. A blood-alcohol level of 0.08 is considered evidence of intoxication.
Pool also failed three field sobriety tests, the affidavit said. He refused to submit to a blood test until deputies obtained a warrant. He also refused to answer any additional questions, the affidavit said.
Reached by phone on Monday, Pool declined to comment.
Pool was hired as the town’s street commissioner three years ago and is scheduled to earn $56,489 in 2020. He and town manager Dave Book were questioned last week about poor record keeping that led to the town under-reporting the amount of mileage in the town’s street and road inventory. The oversight, which had occurred for years, cost the town an estimated $200,000 to $500,000 in state tax revenue, officials said.
