A Stroud man, who was handed two deferred terms on felonies in May of this year, has been sentenced to drug court on a new felony count and a misdemeanor following his arrest by police.
Steven Eugene Laffoon, 63, was charged in Lincoln County District on Sep. 13 with driving while under the influence of alcohol, a second and subsequent offense.
Appearing recently before Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk, and entering guilty pleas as the result of a plea bargain agreement, Judge Kirk found him guilty as charged and sentenced Laffoon to the Lincoln County Drug Court program.
She ordered him to follow all rules and condition of the drug court program. She states if he successfully completes the program, the case be dismissed. If Laffoon fails to successfully complete the program, he will be sentenced on all counts to five years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, assessed a $100 fine and $100 VCA, pay court costs; and the case will run concurrent with two other cases filed in 2021 against him.
Judge Kirk further ordered Laffoon to report to the Lincoln County Drug Court Program.
On Nov. 17, Laffoon waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Special Judge Mueller scheduled his arraignment for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 6. At that time he indicated he was willing to enter the drug court program.
The new felony accused Laffoon on Sep. 12 this year of driving his vehicle on the city streets of Stroud when his blood alcohol concentration was more than .08 and he was under the influence of alcohol.
The misdemeanor count is for driving with license suspended, cancelled and revoked on the same day.
Stroud Police Officer Levi Bruder arrested Laffoon on Sep. 12 after he had followed him for several blocks knowing that Laffoon was driving with a suspended license. He made the contact with the defendant after Laffoon had pulled his vehicle into his driveway and stopped it.
Bruder first transported Laffoon to the Stroud jail where Stroud Police Sgt. Aaron Keeling operated the intoxilyzer that showed the defendant’s blood alcohol concentration was .09, which is above the legal limit.
Bruder later transported Laffoon to the Lincoln County Jail in Chandler where he booked him on the charges.
In May of this year, Laffoon, through a plea bargain agreement, pleaded guilty to a pair of felonies and several misdemeanors. The felonies were two counts of assault and battery upon a police officer.
District Court Judge Cindy Ashwood handed him two three-year deferred prison sentences to run concurrently, assessed him fines on each of those felonies and ordered him to perform community service.
She placed him on supervised probation.
The judge fined him on the misdemeanors of disturbing the peace, public intoxication and resisting an officer.