Via: Powell Tribune
Cody, WY - A local psychiatrist, Matthew Hopkins, has been convicted for driving into a car head-on while under the influence of inhalants and injuring the woman in the other vehicle. A jury convicted him of a felony count of aggravated assault and battery and misdemeanor counts of driving while under the influence of a substance and unlawful use of a toxic substance. Hopkins was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in prison for his offenses. The incident occurred after Hopkins inhaled from a can of dust cleaner and tried driving to his office only to pass out at the wheel and drift into the other lane hitting the other car.
Close friends of Hopkins asked for no prison time and instead mandatory rehabilitation but the Deputy Attorney asked for six to eight years since this is not Hopkins first relapse with substance abuse. In 2003, his medical license was suspended in New Hampshire after he was found writing himself prescriptions. From November 2011 to April 2012, his license was suspended in Wyoming for noncompliance with his monitoring program. All of Hopkins license restrictions were removed in 2015 but he began to relapse publicly in later 2016 after the death of his father. In November of 2016, Hopkins was arrested after he clipped a car in a parking lot and drove off. Police believed him to be under the influence but lacked evidence to prove it so he was awaiting trial. In June 2017, he fell off his bike and police officers found his blood alcohol to be more than twice the legal limit.
Due to his long history of substance abuse the judge and jury felt that more than rehabilitation was required for Hopkins. They said that he was very smart and new the dangers of huffing but made the choice to drive regardless. Hopkins relinquished his medical license and will most likely never practice again.
No comments:
Post a Comment