CANFIELD Dem. party official found guilty in DUI case

A judge ordered the Columbiana County Democratic Partychairman to pay a $250 fine.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
CANFIELD -- A judge found Dennis C. Johnson, the Columbiana County Democratic Party chairman, guilty of driving under the influence and sentenced him to attend a three-day driver's intervention program.
Judge Scott Hunter of Mahoning County Court also ordered Johnson, 61, of North Union Street in Salem, to pay a $250 fine.
Johnson's license was suspended for 10 months retroactive to his December 2001 arrest, which means the suspension has been served and his driving privileges are restored. Johnson has not been permitted to drive since the arrest.
"It was pretty much the typical sentence," said John Shultz, Johnson's attorney.
Johnson entered a no contest plea Friday, and Judge Hunter found him guilty of DUI. The driver's intervention program is offered to first-time DUI offenders.
Judge Hunter dismissed a failure to control charge against Johnson.
What happened
A Mahoning County Sheriff's Department deputy charged Johnson after detecting a strong smell of alcohol on the Democratic chairman's breath after he drove his 1998 Chevrolet into a ditch on Leffingwell Road near the Canfield Fairgrounds.
While being questioned by Deputy Jeff Saluga, Johnson kept saying he was a deputy sheriff and flashed a badge and identification card, reports say.
The ID was a civil commission, and Saluga confiscated the badge and ID card, reports say.
Johnson, party chairman since August 1991, also failed field sobriety tests, and his blood-alcohol level was 0.16; the legal limit is 0.1, sheriff department reports say.
Johnson has served as a staff member at the 17th Congressional District office since then-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. hired him in March 1999. Johnson stayed on the staff after the U.S. House expelled Traficant on July 24.
skolnick@vindy.com