Center Township constable fights to stay in office after more DUI charges

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Lance Stephens was appointed the Center Township constable of successful Marion County in June 2020, a abbreviated clip aft the elected constable, Mark “Tony” Duncan, died.

Stephens was pulled implicit earlier this twelvemonth successful Fishers and was charged with driving nether the influence, according to tribunal records obtained by I-Team 8. Of the 4 charges helium is facing, 2 are felonies, and, if convicted, helium would beryllium forced to resign. In Indiana, constables person afloat instrumentality enforcement powers.

According to tribunal records, Stephens was pulled implicit successful Fishers astatine 1:30 a.m. April 11 adjacent 116th Street and Interstate 69. The cops accidental they stopped Stephens for moving a stoplight, speeding, and an unsafe lane change.

The serviceman who pulled implicit Stephens reported smelling intoxicant and seeing Stephens’ reddish and watery eyes. Once Stephens was retired of the car, his equilibrium was poor; helium failed parts of the tract sobriety test. A preliminary enactment trial registered 0.102 blood-alcohol concentration; successful Indiana, arsenic successful astir different states, the ineligible level of intoxicant depletion 0.08 blood-alcohol concentration.

A fewer hours later, his blood-alcohol attraction was 0.082.

Stephens is charged with 2 misdemeanors and 2 felonies, and is scheduled to look successful a Hamilton County court successful Noblesville successful December.

The felonies retired of Hamilton County are the result of a anterior condemnation of operating a conveyance portion intoxicated complaint successful August 2016. Under Indiana law, 2 charges of driving nether the power successful a seven-year period lead to felonies.

According to tribunal records obtained by I-Team 8, Stephens astatine 1:20 a.m. Aug. 14, 2016, stopped his Lexus in the mediate of Thompson Road in Indianapolis and parked. Police and medics were called to cheque connected him successful the stopped car. According to to court records, Stephens smelled of alcohol, was unsteady connected his feet and, portion helium was talking to police, vomited. 

Stephens pleaded guilty, paid the fines and was enactment connected probation for a year.

Now, Stephens is attempting to person his archetypal condemnation overturned, technically called post-conviction relief. If successful, the felony charges successful Fishers could spell away, and Stephens would beryllium allowed to enactment successful office.

I-Team 8 called Stephens’ office; helium has not returned the call. I-Team 8 besides called his lawyer in Hamilton County; again, nary response. I-Team 8 besides made respective attempts to interaction Stephens, leaving messages successful different ways and, by Wednesday afternoon, he had not responded to the messages.