04222003 - News Article - Another Schererville judicial candidate arrested - No court date set yet for OWI charge - ROBERT CANTRELL

Another Schererville judicial candidate arrested
No court date set yet for OWI charge
NWI Times
Apr 22, 2003
nwitimes.com/news/state-and-regional/another-schererville-judicial-candidate-arrested/article_b241aa87-f147-5b50-a09b-f5aeb9aa8010.html
SCHERERVILLE -- Another candidate for town judge is awaiting trial himself in another court on drunken driving allegations.

Benjamen W. Murphy, 30, of Schererville, one of four Democrats running in the spring primary, declined comment Monday about a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated now pending in Lake Superior Court County Division.

State Police Trooper D. E. Turner alleges in a probable cause affidavit he stopped Murphy's beige four-door 2003 Cadillac at 12:55 a.m. April 12 in the northbound lanes of Interstate 65, one half-mile north of U.S. 30 for unsafe lane movement and for traveling 70 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Turner alleges Murphy smelled of alcohol, had watery eyes, was unsteady and failed a field sobriety test. A breath test indicated Murphy had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.14, which is more than the legal limit, the affidavit said.

He has not been arraigned. No court date is set in the matter.

Randy A. Godshalk, another Democratic candidate for town judge, is awaiting trial on a operating a vehicle while intoxicated charge. He was arrested Jan. 28 at Broad Street and Manor Drive in Griffith for having failed to turn on his headlights, according to Superior Court documents.

The arresting officer alleges Godshalk had watery eyes, a faint odor of alcohol and was slow in reciting the alphabet. He also submitted to a portable breath test that indicated his blood-alcohol concentration was 0.14.

Godshalk is pleading innocent.

Town Judge Deborah A. Riga, the incumbent, and Kenneth L. Anderson of Schererville are the other candidates in the Democratic primary. There are no Republicans running for the office.