Judge orders OUI case against former Marblehead rep continued without finding

MARBLEHEAD – Former State Rep. Douglas Petersen admitted to “sufficient facts” in a charge of operating under the influence and the judge ordered the case continued without a finding until a year later, according to court documents.”I think that he was pleased to put the matter behind him,” said Petersen’s attorney Thomas Drechsler on Friday. “It was a very straightforward, first offender disposition, and he wanted to put the matter behind him and move forward.”Petersen, 63, of 29 Rose Ave., was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of liquor and failure to keep right of an island or median at approximately 8:17 p.m. Nov. 9.Officer Brendan Finnegan wrote in a report filed in Lynn District Court that a witness observed Petersen lose control of his gray BMW while trying to make a right turn from Tedesco Street on to Brookhouse Drive. The witness reported the car bumped off the median curb and lost a tire before coming to a stop and Petersen emerged unharmed, according to Finnegan’s report.According to a report filed by Officer Chuck Sinclair, Petersen refused to take field sobriety tests. However, Sinclair noted that he “smelled a heavy odor of alcohol emanating from his breath and observed that his eyes were glassy and bloodshot.”Sinclair reported that Petersen told him that he was going home and did not see the island.”I brought up the fact that he lives just a few streets away and he can’t expect me to believe that he doesn’t know the island is there,” Sinclair said in his report. Sinclair also noted that after initially denying having had anything to drink, Petersen admitted to having a couple of drinks but did not believe he was drunk. He also admitted to retired Sgt. Donald Decker that he had been taking anti-depressants.Petersen pleaded innocent to the charges and was released on personal recognizance by Judge Michael Uhlarik on Nov. 16.As conditions of his Wednesday disposition, Petersen will undergo a 90-day alcohol-awareness program and a brain injury awareness program. He also will have his license suspended for 45 days and must pay all applicable court fees.Drechsler said that the conditions were standard for a first-time offense and that the charges will be dismissed after a year pending no further incidences.Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].