Rocky Hill Drunk Driver Convicted

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained convictions against an impaired driver who could not maintain his lane while driving down Northshore Drive. Eric Lloyd Turner, 48, was convicted of Driving Under the Influence First Offense. When the jury returned its verdict, Judge Bob McGee sentenced Turner to serve forty-eight hours in jail and suspended his driver’s license for one year.

At trial, Assistant District Attorney Greg Eshbaugh explained to the jury that shortly after midnight on August 9, 2015, Knox County Sheriff’s Department Officer Timothy Belcher saw Turner speeding down Northshore Drive at Morrell Road in Rocky Hill. Turner could not stay in his lane, crossing the double yellow line and the fog line. Ofc. Belcher stopped Turner, who smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes. Turner failed field sobriety tests and blamed his poor driving on texting.

DUI First Offense is a Class A misdemeanor that carries a punishment of eleven months and twenty-nine days with a mandatory forty-eight hours in jail.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.