BAC levels were 3 and 4-Times higher than the Legal Limit

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports the arrest of Richard Hooton, Jr., 52 of Clarence, on two separate DWI arrests about 20-hours apart.

On September 2, Deputies responded to motorists’ complaints of an erratic driver along Main Street in Clarence around 8:23 p.m.  Deputies located the vehicle and observed it travel through a red light at Greiner and Goodrich.  After Deputies initiated a traffic stop, they administered standard field sobriety tests, which Hooton failed multiple times.  A chemical test indicated Hooton had a BAC level over 4-times the legal limit.  He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of aggravated DWI, DWI, and a felony count of aggravated unlicensed of a vehicle due to the suspension of his license following a previous DWI incident.  He was also cited for vehicle and traffic law violations.

Hooton was issued tickets and taken to Erie County Medical Center for treatment.

On September 3, at approximately 4:40 p.m., a Deputy performed a traffic stop along Wehrle Drive in Lancaster after observing vehicle and traffic law violations.  When the Deputy was speaking to the operator, the Deputy detected signs of intoxication and administered standard field sobriety tests.  The driver, 52-year-old Richard Hooton, Jr., of Clarence, failed multiple tests and was arrested.  Hooton again submitted to a chemical test, which indicated a BAC level of more than 3-times the legal limit.

Hooton was, once again arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of aggravated DWI, DWI, and a felony count of aggravated unlicensed of a vehicle due to the suspension of his license following a previous DWI incident, as well as two separate vehicle and traffic law infractions.

The defendant was taken to the Erie County Holding Center pending his arraignment