A nun in Philadelphia was found guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated after a judge rejected her claims that she was sleep-driving. The court judge ruled her guiltyto the said charge on Wednesday as the judge find her excuse unbelievable.
Sister Kimberly Miller, 41 was arrested for drunk driving and was charged with DUI in Gloucester County, 11 Alive reported. Washington Township police pulled her over on the 7th of November. The nun told the officers that she was "sleep driving" because of the medication, Ambien, in which she argued in court.
Miller claimed, she took the medication with several glasses of wine and before she went to sleep. She said she was not aware that she was driving has crashed into a Meineke service center building, shattering its glass door. She was stopped by police further down the pike after witnesses called to report the crash.
During the five-hour court proceeding at a municipal court, Jeff Lindy, her representing attorney, told Judge Martin Whitcraft that his client suffers "pathological intoxication" condition, NJ.com reported. He argued that Miller should not be convicted to the charge as she was not conscious at the time she was driving 20 miles from St. Veronica's, her North Philadelphia convent, to South Jersey.
However, Judge Whitcraft "sleep driving" because of the prescription sleep aid is no basis for a defense in New Jersey. The judge tossed the blood-alcohol level test result of .16 percent from evidence. However, he based on the police report, that a half-empty bottle of wine was found of her Chevrolet sedan car. He said, she violated the Pennsylvania and New Jersey open container laws.
Miller's driver's license was suspended for 90 days. She was also ordered to pay a $650 fine and complete 12 hours at a New Jersey intoxication resource center, Philly.com reported. The four related charges, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash, failure to report the crash, and not having an auto insurance card were dismissed.
Miller was a librarian and theology teacher at Little Flower High School for Girls. Despite the verdict, the judge still find it hard to believe her testimony.
