YOUNGSTOWN Official to enter plea in DUI case

The city official had an open beer bottle in his car, the state patrol says.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jeffrey L. Chagnot, the city's economic development director, will plead guilty next month to driving drunk in Boardman, a prosecutor says.
Chagnot, who turns 52 on Friday, has reached a plea agreement, said Edward F. Sturgeon, an assistant Mahoning County prosecutor assigned to Canfield's court.
Technically Chagnot could back out of the plea agreement Nov. 15, and then the case would be set for trial, Sturgeon said.
The case originated in Boardman's county court. Judge Joseph M. Houser had the case transferred to Canfield on Sept. 20, 2001.
Arrested
The arrest happened at 7:25 p.m. Sept. 18, 2001, said Sgt. Jeff Smith at the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Canfield. A trooper spotted Chagnot's 2000 Pontiac going left of center as it traveled on Tippecanoe Road north of Lockwood Boulevard in Boardman, and he pulled it over.
The trooper, who noticed the odor of alcohol, had Chagnot step out of the car to take field sobriety tests. Based on Chagnot's inability to successfully complete the tests, he was taken to the Canfield post for a breath test, which he refused, Smith said.
Chagnot said Wednesday that he attempted to blow into the Breathalyzer but, because of his diminished lung capacity due to smoking, wasn't able.
Chagnot was charged with DUI, driving left of center, having an open container of alcohol and no seat belt. The container was a bottle of beer, Smith said.
The patrol took Chagnot's license, took him to the county jail and had his car towed. The jail booked and released Chagnot that night.
His license remains under suspension, Sturgeon said.
Chagnot said he has occupational driving privileges, which permits him to drive to work. He said he is receiving counseling for an alcohol problem.
"It was bad judgment. I had been off that day, feeling a little depressed over the events of 9/11," Chagnot said. "I made a bad decision. I'm sorry it happened."
He said he used a vacation day to be off the day it happened. He said he informed his boss, Finance Director David Bozanich, of the DUI when he returned to work.
Sturgeon, meanwhile, said he generally recommends a three-day sentence on a first offense, which can be three days in a driver's program.
In 1987, Chagnot was charged in municipal court with DUI and failure to maintain an assured clear distance after a two-car accident on Fifth Avenue.
Microfilm records at the clerk of court show that the DUI charge was amended to reckless operation Feb. 3, 1988, and Chagnot pleaded no contest, the clerk's office said. The assured clear distance charge was dismissed.
Judge Luke Levy fined Chagnot $25 and costs, records show.
meade@vindy.com