Wasco County Commission candidate charged with DUII

Grant is charged with two counts driving under the influence of intoxicants, six counts recklessly endangering another person, and one count reckless driving.

All are class A misdemeanors.

Grant is running against Lisa Gambee in the Nov. 3 election for county commissioner position 1. He also serves as chairman of the Wasco County Republican Central Committee.

All of the charges come from the arrest on July 21, when Oregon State Police (OSP) stopped the white Ford van Grant was driving after observing it “driving recklessly” near milepost 73 eastbound at 10:50 p.m., according to their desk log.

Grant consented to field sobriety tests and showed more indicators of impairment, and was arrested, according to the log. A warrant for a blood sample was obtained, and the sample taken, as well as a breath test. 

One DUII charge is based on the observations of investigators at the time. The second comes from Grant’s showing 0.14% blood alcohol content on the breath test, which is over the legal limit of 0.08%. The recklessly endangering charges come from his allegedly endangering the six occupants of the vehicle who first called law enforcement about his driving.

Grant was released to a sober individual, and the vehicle was towed.

His first hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 17 in the Wasco County Circuit Court, before Judge Marion T. Weatherford.

The penalties of Class A misdemeanors go up to 364 days in jail and a $6,250 fine; for DUII, that includes a year's suspension of one's driving license. However, Oregon has a diversion program for people getting their first DUII. If they qualify, they are entitled to the program, which dictates treatment, no use of intoxicants with a prescription for a full year, and a victim impact panel.

Failing a breath test results in a suspension of a driver's license for at least 90 days.

Grant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. He did not respond to request for comment by press deadline Monday.