(Iowa Supreme Court’s chief )Justice's husband gets probation in drinking case

[The Straight Story]

Justice's husband gets probation in drinking case
By CHARLOTTE EBY, Globe Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES — The husband of the Iowa Supreme Court’s chief justice has been sentenced to probation in connection with an underage drinking party at their home earlier this year.

Dennis W. Drake had been charged with interference with official acts for allegedly refusing to follow orders from a sheriff’s deputy who told him to remain on the scene while he investigated. Drake is married to Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Ternus.

Drake pleaded entered an Alford plea Tuesday to an amended charge of harassment of a public official. He had been scheduled to stand trial Wednesday after a judge declined to dismiss the charge against him.

An Alford plea means Drake is not admitting specific elements of the offense, but acknowledges he does not stand to gain by going to trial.

Drake was granted a deferred judgment, placed on probation for 12 months and ordered to pay a $65 fine. A deferred judgment allows the crime to be removed from Drake’s criminal record if he successfully completes his term of probation.

http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/10/20/news/latest/doc4ade4f3c93b2f752424362.txt#vmix_media_id=6850151