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Bauer accepts plea bargain on driving charges


Associated Press

COLUMBIA--Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer has agreed to a plea bargain to resolve a reckless driving charge from May that ended with a police officer feeling threatened enough at a traffic stop to pull his weapon.

Bauer was pulled over May 6 in Columbia as he rushed to the Statehouse to preside over the Senate's daily session. A police report says that when Bauer got out of the car, officer Jon Vanhouten thought Bauer was approaching him in an aggressive manner. The officer drew his gun, pointing it at the lieutenant governor.

The plea deal, finalized this week, calls for Bauer to pay $311.25 for driving too fast for conditions and for disregarding a traffic control device.

The two charges carry a total of at least six driver's license points. At 12 points, a license is suspended. The reckless driving charge is a six-point offense. It was unclear how many points Bauer was assessed.

Bauer previously put up bail of $415 for a reckless driving charge while requesting a jury trial. At the time, his lawyer said Bauer wanted to have the case heard by a jury so the record would show he wasn't guilty of reckless driving.

The agreement means no trial and that Bauer will get a re-fund after paying the reduced fine.

There was no special treat-ment, city prosecutor Bob Cooper said.

"He stepped up and took responsibility for two significant driving offenses," Cooper said.

Columbia lawyer Joe McCul-loch says its not unusual for reckless driving charges to be re-duced.

"It's not surprising at all," McCulloch said. "I'm glad that he fessed up."

News of the agreement comes while Bauer is leading an economic development trip to Taiwan.

"I have always acknowledged my error, asked for no special treatment, and, if anything, to be held to a higher standard of accountability in order to set the proper example," Bauer said in the statement his office released Tuesday.


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