By Lorelei Olivas
SANTA BARBARA, CA – The long arm of the law reached out from 2013 and snared Irishman Augustine Murphy more than eight years after he was ticketed for biking under the influence with an open container of alcohol on July 4, 2013.
But Judge Clifford Anderson, III, here in Santa Barbara County Superior Court dismissed the charge late last week, noting it had been a long time since the ticket was issued.
Murphy, who is from Ireland, was in Santa Barbara to work on water park rides back in 2013 and took part in a party on his last day in the U.S.
“He was scheduled to (go) back to Ireland the following morning, and he left. He didn’t understand that there was a warrant out for him,” Ian Morse, Murphy’s attorney, said.
Murphy was traveling through the U.S. to Australia recently when he was arrested on his outstanding warrant.
Defense counsel Morse argued for the case to be dismissed.
But, Deputy District Attorney Justin Greene disagreed and argued the defendant should have to complete 10 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
“I felt that a fair and equitable resolution given the situation was 10 AAs for a dismissal,” DDA Greene said.
Judge Anderson ultimately dismissed the case, commenting, “Given the length of time, I’ll go ahead and dismiss it in the interest of justice,” Judge Anderson said.
