By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
June 6, 2007

A defense attorney, one of four partners in a Hood River law firm, was arraigned on Monday for DUII and Reckless Driving charges.

Alonzo “Lonny” Vincent Smith, 57, waived his right to appear in Hood River Circuit Court. He was represented instead by Brian Starnes from Morris, Olson, Smith and Starnes.

The firm holds the primary public defenders’ contract with the local court. Their clients often include individuals arrested for DUII offenses.

Starnes told Judge Paul Crowley on June 4 that Smith wanted to enter a diversion program as soon as possible. That request is expected to be decided in court on Tuesday morning.

In exchange for entering a guilty plea, Smith could be allowed to replace jail time with any treatment deemed necessary by a professional evaluator. He will also trade the standard 18 months of probation for education on the dangers of drinking and driving.

Smith was unable to be reached for comment about the case.

According to reports, a passing motorist called the emergency dispatch center about Smith’s erratic driving on May 20. A patrol deputy then pulled him over along Reed Road about 6:30 p.m.

After Smith allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test, the law enforcement officer obtained a search warrant for a blood draw. The results of that toxicology test have not yet been returned by the state crime lab.