Oct 30, 2012 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – A Dilliner man who pleaded guilty last month to two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of fleeing or attempting to elude police was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Farley Toothman to 36 to 72 months in prison.Duane Roy Hughes, 47, of 688 Walnut Hill Road, was arrested June 11, 2011, and charged with DUI, driving while his operating privileges were suspended or revoked and six summary traffic violations. Hughes had a blood-alcohol content of 0.201 percent, police said.Hughes was arrested again Sept. 29, 2011. Police were called to Hughes’ home after he became involved in a fight with Jennifer Hughes. Hughes fled the house in his pickup truck before police arrived.Police later saw Hughes’ truck and attempted to stop it by parking a patrol car in the middle of the road. Hughes drove off the roadway to get around the patrol car, then led police on a high-speed pursuit before pulling into a driveway and attempting to flee on foot.Police said his BAC was 0.170 percent. Hughes was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving while his operating privileges were suspended or revoked and five other summary traffic violations.In addition to the prison sentence, Hughes was ordered to pay $7,600 in fines.In other business before the court, Fred Arthur Lowry, 18, of 100 Bliss Ave., Nemacolin, was entered into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, having been charged with criminal mischief, criminal trespass and loitering or prowling at night. Lowry was accused of scratching an obscenity on the hood of a vehicle March 18 on Wood Street in Nemacolin. He also was accused of entering a house at 141 Wood Street, Nemacolin July 10.Those entered into the ARD program normally serve one year of probation. Those who complete all the requirements of the program can petition the court to have their record expunged.Tabitha Lee Walls, 26, of 2289 W. Roy Furman Highway, Waynesburg, pleaded guilty to driving without a license and operating a vehicle without certificate of inspection. She was fined $50. A charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed by Toothman on the basis of a suppression motion arguing items were found as a result of unreasonable search by police.Walls had been stopped Aug. 15 for having an expired inspection sticker.Police asked to search her vehicle and found empty stamp bags used for heroin inside the vehicle as well as five empty stamp bags, used hypodermic needles and a spoon in her purse.