Ex-town leader fined after crashing pickup

The former chairman of the Springfield Select Board, who lost his bid for re-election last month, pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, second offense and was fined $1,000.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100409/THISJUSTIN/4090350/1003/NEWS02   # # # # Ex-town leader fined after crashing pickup  •  Rutland Herald  •  Published: April 9, 2010  •  WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The former chairman of the Springfield Select Board, who lost his bid for re-election last month, pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, second offense and was fined $1,000.  •  Mark Blanchard of Springfield will also lose his driver's license for 90 days, as part of the plea agreement, said David Cahill, Windsor County deputy state's attorney who handled Blanchard's case.  •  Cahill said the length of the license suspension was the same as a conviction for driving under the influence, first offense.  •  "I thought it was a fair resolution, The consequence matches the conduct," he said.  •  Blanchard was cited by Chester police after he crashed his pickup on a back road on Nov. 20. His blood alcohol content was 0.078 at the time of the test two hours after the accident, and Cahill said state chemists would have testified that Blanchard's blood alcohol was in excess of 0.08, the state's legal limit for driving, at the time of the accident.  •  According to court records, Blanchard had previously been charged with drunken driving in Ludlow, but that 2000 charge was also reduced to careless and negligent operation.  •