Councilman due in court today

An agreement that will likely end the DUI case of Culpeper Town Councilman Bobby Ryan may be publicly presented today, court records indicate.

On May 21 in General District Court, Ryan, 64, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of DUI second offense within five years. The case is due in Circuit Court today at 9:30 a.m.

At that time of his plea, a judge sentenced Ryan to 90 days in jail with 60 days suspended; $756 in fines, fees and costs; two years probation; and substance-abuse and driving-safety classes.

Ryan was set to begin serving his jail time last month. However, appealed May 29.

By law, defendants are allowed 10 days to appeal convictions or judgments in General District Court cases.

Details of the agreement were not available Tuesday, as documents for today’s court date were still being prepared, according to an employee in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.

Ryan had been set for a jury trial, but that request was withdrawn, records show.

The case stems from an incident Feb. 26 in which an off-duty state trooper reportedly noticed Ryan driving erratically on Sunset Lane around 2:15 a.m.

Ryan was later found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.17, more than twice the legal limit.

He was held overnight in the Culpeper County Jail and released on $2,000 bond.

Culpeper attorney T.C. Lea is representing Ryan. A call to his office seeking comment was not returned Tuesday.

Special Prosecutor Amy Harper of Spotsylvania County was assigned to represent the state. She could not be reached for comment.

Special prosecutors are typically used when there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest in a court case.

Ryan was previously convicted of DUI in 2004. He served as councilman from 1994 to 2002 and was re-elected to another four-year term on council in May 2008.