November 26th, 2024 by WCBC Radio

Maryland House Minority Leader Jason Buckel will not be serving any jail time for a charge of driving while impaired earlier this year.  Buckel entered an Alford plea in Allegany County District Court Monday.  He received probation before judgement and a 270 day suspension of his driver’s license. Buckel was stopped in LaVale in June along National Highway.  

The plea to a misdemeanor will not jeopardize Buckel’s seat in the House of Delegates.

An elected official in Maryland is required to give up his or her office under two circumstances. The first is if found guilty or enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for any felony. An official would also lose his or her position if found guilty or entered a guilty plea for any misdemeanor related to their official duties, or to a crime of moral turpitude which carries a jail sentence.