Drugged Driver Convicted, Taken into Custody

DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit secured convictions today against Chastity Oneal Lambdin, 25, for Driving Under the Influence and Violation of the Seatbelt Law. After the jury returned their verdict, Judge Steve Sword ordered that Lambdin be taken into custody.

At trial, Assistant District Attorney Joe Welker explained to the jury that shortly after noon on January 23, 2014, Lambdin was driving on Norris Freeway near Emory Road while not wearing a seatbelt. Knox County Sheriff’s Office Deputy John Sharp stopped Lambdin who exhibited clear signs of intoxication. She failed field sobriety tests and admitted to using morphine and hydrocodone. When Lambdin was taken for a blood draw to determine the level of intoxicants in her blood, she stated that she did not have”good veins” due to recent intravenous drug use. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime lab confirmed the presence of opiates in Lambdin’s blood.

“With growing prescription and opiate drug abuse in our community, we have seen an increase in the number of drugged driving cases,” said DA Charme Allen.”People need to be aware that drugged driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.”

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.