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Fort Wayne mayor pleads guilty to drunk driving charge

By Tony Sandleben, IPB News | Published on in Crime, Government, Politics, Statewide News
Mayor Tom Henry appeared at Citizens Square Sunday to apologize for his arrest on charges of operating while intoxicated. (Tony Sandleben/ WBOI)

ort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry’s mugshot after his arrest early Sunday morning for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. He was arrested after a minor crash. (Allen County Sheriff’s Department)

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry pleaded guilty Monday to one misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated stemming from a weekend arrest following a minor car accident.

The plea agreement at his initial hearing in Allen Superior Court came about 24 hours after Henry admitted Sunday to getting behind the wheel after drinking at a public event.

After a minor crash late Saturday night, Henry was booked into the Allen County Jail on two counts, one of which indicated his blood alcohol concentration was nearly twice the legal limit of .08. According to court documents, the mayor’s BAC was .15.  No injuries were reported after the car accident, where police say Henry drove left of center and hit another vehicle.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Henry’s license will be suspended for 90 days.

He has been given a suspended jail sentence of a year, meaning if he violates any terms of the plea deal he could be sentenced to a year behind bars. Per the agreement, he will not be allowed to consume alcohol and must submit to random drug testing.

Henry will be referred to Alcohol Countermeasures for evaluation before his sentencing hearing, and will have to pay a yet undetermined amount in restitution.

Mayor Henry’s sentencing hearing is set for Nov. 7.

He declined to comment after the hearing.

On Sunday afternoon at Citizens Square, Henry read a prepared statement to the press.

“I’m terribly embarrassed by the poor decision-making that occurred last evening,” Henry said. “Today, I am here for a single purpose, and that is to express my heartfelt and sincere apology to all the citizens of our city.”

Henry, a Democrat, is up for re-election next year.

So far, Republican City Councilman Tom Didier is his only opponent.

Didier released a statement Sunday afternoon saying in part, “I have known the Henry family for much of my life, and our relationship goes way beyond politics. I am glad that no one was seriously harmed and would encourage everyone to pray for those involved.”