Henry Thomas, the former child star best known for his role as Elliot in E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, was arrested earlier this week in Oregon for DUII.
According to a spokesperson for the Tualatin Police Department, law enforcement was alerted about a vehicle at an intersection that wasn’t moving around 8:30 p.m. on Monday. Officers who responded to the call said they found Thomas asleep behind the wheel. Police woke him up and asked him to perform some field sobriety tests. Following the tests, he was taken into custody and later charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.
Thomas was booked into the Washington County Jail. It’s uncertain whether or not he used in one call to “phone home.”
Handling A DUI Arrest
A DUII charge in Oregon is similar to a DUI charge here in Minnesota, but when comparing the penalties, they are a little harsher out west. In Minnesota, a first offense DUI is typically a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine up to $1,000, and the suspension of your driver’s license for a set period of time. In Oregon, a first offense DUII is punishable by:
- Between two days and a year in jail, or 80 hours of community service.
- A minimum fine of $1,000. With a BAC over 0.15, the minimum fine jumps to $2,000.
- License suspension for a year.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device once the year suspension is complete.
- Participation in a drug or alcohol education course.
- Participation in a victim’s impact panel.
Minnesota also has some of these penalties on the books, and based on the specifics of your DUI, a judge may declare that you’ll face some of these penalties alongside the standard punishments.
Odds are Thomas will connect with a lawyer to help defend his case, and that’s the same thing you should do if you find yourself facing a DUI or similar criminal charges. As you can see, the potential punishments can have a significant impact on your life, so let us fight on your behalf. For more information, or to set up a free consultation with one of our lawyers, reach out to the experienced legal team at Appelman Law Firm at (952) 224-2277.
