SALEM — A New Hampshire woman who was caught driving away from the courthouse following her arraignment on drunken-driving charges last week owned up to both crimes yesterday.
Maureen Fogwell, 57, got "kind of a bitter lesson," Judge Richard Mori told her as he sentenced her to a 60-day minimum mandatory jail term for driving after her license was suspended. She was given credit for the week she's spent at the prison in Framingham since a judge revoked her bail last Wednesday.
Fogwell also has a six-month suspended jail term hanging over her head for the next two years, during which she will be on probation for the drunken-driving charge. Fogwell must also complete a 14-day in-patient alcohol program, which is standard for a second offense.
Fogwell, a flight attendant from North Hampton, N.H., was arrested April 19, after state police got a call about an erratic driver on Route 95. She failed field sobriety tests and registered a .10 and a .15 on a Breathalyzer.
Police told Fogwell her license was suspended, but could not seize the license because it's from another state. She was released on $200 bail.
Fogwell decided to drive to Salem District Court anyway for her arraignment the following Wednesday. In the courtroom, Judge Joseph Jennings ordered her to turn her license over to a probation officer and not to drive while the case is pending.
She did so, then left and got back into her 2005 Lexus, which happened to be parked next to the courthouse — something witnessed by a court officer, who called police. Fogwell was arrested and brought back to the courthouse in handcuffs.
Jennings revoked her $200 bail in the drunken-driving case and sent her to jail for 60 days or until the resolution of the case.
Fogwell and her attorney, Michael Smerczynski, made the decision to plead out in the case yesterday.
As he imposed the sentence, Mori stressed to the woman, "You've got to follow the law."
"I will, your honor," Fogwell replied.
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