ROCKLAND, Maine — A judge on Friday refused to approve another delay of the sentence for a Camden woman who drove drunk three times within a few weeks in 2010.
Judge Susan Sparaco said that while the defendant Susan Such, 64, of Camden had a compelling story, the integrity of the judicial process was more important.
Such was charged in 2010 for three counts of operating under the influence. Two of the offenses occurred on the same day, and the third offense occurred within a couple of weeks.
She pleaded guilty to the three counts through a special agreement called a deferred disposition. She adhered to the terms of that agreement, and the third offense was dismissed. She still was required, however, to spend seven days in an alternative program where the offenders perform community service for that period rather than spend the time in jail.
But for the last three years, Such has been successful in delaying the start of her seven days in the program so she could care for an elderly husband who is bedridden.
On two occasions, the district attorney’s office agreed to requests by Such to postpone her serving those seven days. Then in August 2014 and again in February, the court agreed to two more postponements over the objections of the prosecution.
On Friday, Such again asked for a delay — this time until April — to continue caring for her 78-year-old husband.
Sparaco pointed out that Such had been given a long time to prepare for her being away from home for seven days. She said people are sentenced frequently to jail terms when they are the only breadwinner and it imposes a punishment on other people.
The judge said that this was the longest postponement she could recall.
Such was ordered to begin her alternative sentence Friday afternoon. It was not revealed in court what arrangements were made for her husband’s care.