Baird pleads guilty to 3 out of 4 DUI charges

A Williamsburg man, who was charged with driving while under the influence four times over a four-month period, will have his license suspended for more than three years.
Daniel Baird, 20, of 161 Cemetery Road, pleaded guilty in Whitley District Court in Corbin Monday morning to his first, second, and third driving while under the influence charges in exchange for jail sentences that were conditionally discharged.
Judge Dan Ballou sentenced Baird to a 30-day jail sentence on the first offense charge, but the jail time is to be conditionally discharged for two years. He sentenced Baird to a 90-day jail sentence on the second offense charge, but all but 14 days of that sentence will be conditionally discharged. On the third offense charge, Ballou sentenced Baird to 12 months in jail, but conditionally discharged all of the sentence except for time Baird has already served.
All three sentences are standard sentences handed down in Whitley District Court for first, second, and third driving while under the influence charges.
Baird was ordered to have no further violations of the law, to obtain employment, to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, and to report to drug court twice a month. Another condition of the agreement is that Baird not be in the front seat of a motor vehicle.
Court records also indicate that Baird was ordered to be under home incarceration for a total of 72 days. After March 24, he will be allowed off of an ankle-monitoring bracelet.
Ballou’s order requires the monitoring company to report any violations of these conditions until that time.
Baird was fined a total of $2,431.50, and his license was suspended for three years and three months.
According to court records, Baird’s first two driving while under the influence charges were filed after Baird was involved in accidents, including one where a woman was seriously injured. Prior to a third charge, Baird allegedly almost ran an off-duty sheriff’s deputy off the road, court records indicate.
When Daniel Baird was arrested on his most recent driving while under the influence charge on Jan. 8, his bond was initially set at $20,000 by Judge Cathy Prewitt, but she later agreed to amend the bond to a $50,000 property bond, which was posted Jan. 12.
Ballou issued an amended order on Jan. 17 requiring Baird to either go back to jail, or check himself into a secure rehabilitation facility.
On Jan. 26, court officials entered an agreed order to allow Baird to leave the Whitley County Detention Center in order to enter Crossroads Rehabilitation Center in Corbin.
According to the order, Baird was to be required to wear a Smart RF ankle-monitoring bracelet with Encom while at the facility.
Baird’s Jan. 8 driving while under the influence charge has not been resolved, and is still pending in court.