Rome woman arrested on Leandra’s Law charge

BAC found to be three times over legal limit

VERNON, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — A Rome woman was arrested for a felony DWI on Sunday, May 19 after crashing her car into a field in Vernon, according to Oneida County Sheriffs.

Sheriffs were called to an accident on Gifford Road in the Town of Vernon at approximately 5:15 pm on Sunday, May 19. Further investigation found that the driver — 32-year-old Michelle Malone of Rome — had backed her car into a field, causing damage to the vehicle.

Further investigation found that Malone had a 12-year-old passenger in the vehicle. The passenger, nor Malone, was not injured in the accident. Sheriffs initiated a field sobriety test on Malone, which revealed that she had a blood alcohol content of .26, over three times the legal limit in New York State. Malone was ultimately taken into custody and transported to the Kurt Wyman Law Enforcement Building in Oriskany for processing and arraignment.

Malone was charged with:

• common-law Driving While Intoxicated,
• Driving While Intoxicated with a .08 or higher BAC,
• Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a .18 or higher BAC,
• Felony Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated with a child in the vehicle, also known as “Leandra’s Law,
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and
• Four separate traffic violations.

Malone was released on her own recognizance after being arraigned. An order of protection was issued on behalf of the child passenger and Child Protective Services were notified.