Detroit Pistons star Ben Wallace waives his right to a preliminary hearing in DUI case: NBA News
Detroit Pistons veteran forward Ben Wallace, who was scheduled to appear in front of the 48th District Court Judge Kim Small on Monday to face charges of drunk driving and carrying a weapon unlawfully, waived his right
to a preliminary hearing.
The 37-year-old Wallace will now appear in the Oakland County Circuit Court on 11th October for the same charges.
On 24th September, at about 3 a.m., Ben Wallace was pulled over by Bloomfield Township police for irregular driving on the Telegraph. Upon interrogation, the police found out that Wallace, who was driving a 2007 Cadillac
Escalade, was drunk and was also carrying an unloaded gun in the backpack.
In the morning, Bloomfield Township police Department released a statement in this regard. “Mr. Wallace was arrested without incident for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed
an unloaded pistol in a backpack which was in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.”
According to the police report which was handed over to the Oakland press, a loaded magazine and some bullets were also found during a thorough search. The gun was of 28 bore and was registered in the name Wallace’s wife.
The medical tests suggested that the blood level in Wallace’s was 0.14 which was 0.06 higher than the limit allowed in Michigan State laws.
This was Wallace’s first offence for drunk driving and under normal circumstances it is not considered grave enough for a jail time. However, the judge in question, in Wallace’s case was Kimberley Small, who has a reputation for
her tough stance on the DUI offender, even those who are caught for the first time.
Jalen Rose, a former NBA player, had to stay behind bar for 20 day, just two months back when he caught in the same offence and Wallace was all set to suffer the same fate.
However the illegal gun saved the day for the four time NBA defensive player of the year.
The gun possession increased the offense level and to avoid facing judge Small, Wallace’s attorney advised Wallace to waive his rights to a preliminary hearing.
Wallace will now appear before Oakland County Circuit Court and is expected to escape with just a fine and probation.
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