Former Spotsylvania prosecutor guilty of DWI

Amy Marie Harper, a former prosecutor with the Spotsylvania Commonwealth’s Attorney office, was found guilty Friday on a DWI charge stemming from an auto accident in December.

Two other charges, refusing a blood/breath test and following too closely, were nolle prossed, meaning the charges were set aside.

Harper was fined $250 for the driving while intoxicated conviction, according to Spotsylvania County General District Court records. She also has to pay $206 in court costs. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but all of it was suspended. Her license was suspended for a year and she will have to attend Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program meetings.

Harper, a Fredericksburg resident, was charged late on Dec. 23 after her 2006 Porsche SUV rear-ended a car, which in turn rear-ended another car, on Salem Church Road, according to the Virginia State Police. (Click here for the original story.)

No one was injured in the crash, according to Bill Neely, Spotsylvania commonwealth’s attorney.

Ronald Reel, an assistant prosecutor with the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney office, served as the special prosecutor in the case. Defense attorney Mark Gardner represented Harper.

Harper’s blood alcohol level was .09, according to Reel. The legal limit in Virginia is .08.

According to a Culpeper Star-Exponent story, a video of Harper’s interaction with police, who recognized Harper from her position as a prosecutor, was played in court.  The paper reported that after watching the video, former Richmond Judge Thomas O. Jones, the special judge assigned to the case, said “she’s certainly not falling-down drunk.”

Harper was suspended after being charged and resigned from the Spotsylvania Commonwealth’s Attorney office on Jan. 13, according to Neely.

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