Wednesday, May 4, 2011 3:58 pm

Judge Susan Melton held court on Wednesday this week in order to conduct three preliminary hearings.

The hearings were scheduled a couple of months ago by agreement between attorneys. The only case in which a preliminary hearing was actually conducted was that of Richard Stickney.

Stickney was arrested in September of 2010 and charged with driving under the influence. On direct examination, Woodbury Police Officer John Fesmire testified that he pulled Stickney’s vehicle over near the Co-Op after he pulled out in front of him.

Fesmire said that, upon approaching the vehicle, he asked for Stickney’s driver’s license and insurance card and that Stickney handed him his health insurance card instead. Fesmire then asked Stickney to exit the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests.

Upon exiting the vehicle, Fesmire observed that Stickney was not wearing pants. Stickney’s wife told Fesmire that he suffered from multiple sclerosis and that pants aggravated his condition. Fesmire then learned that Stickney had left the house without wearing any pants.

After Sickney was unable to perform any field sobriety tests, Fesmire placed him under arrest. Stickney’s attorney, Tommy Santel, blamed Stickney’s medical condition for his inability to perform the tests. Stickney has trouble walking and requires the aid of a crutch to get around.

After hearing the testimony and watching a videotape of the traffic stop, Judge Melton bound the case over to the May, 2011 term of the Cannon County Grand Jury. Stickney is currently free on $2,500.00 bond.

The other defendants on the docket were John Carter and Audra Estes. Estes’ attorney failed to appear so both cases were reset for May 24th. They face methamphetamine related charges.