Anderson Sotomayor, of Bridgeton, was stopped for 6 DWIs earlier this year. He was sentenced to one year in jail and the loss of his license for 33 years. He appeared in court Tuesday, Aug. 14, but his next court date was postponed.
— A drug charge against
, the Vineland man who was charged with six drunken driving offenses this year, was dismissed in Superior Court Friday.
Sotomayor’s run-ins with the law made headlines through the summer across the region and prompted creation of state legislation targeting repeat drunken drivers.
He was sentenced in August to a year in county jail and lost his driver’s license for more than 30 years after pleading guilty on three of the DWIs.
Sotomayor’s first DWI came on April 9, when he crashed into a police vehicle. Two days later, he received a second DWI for crashing into a utility pole. His third came on April 25, where he was pulled over for swerving and charged with possession of an opened bottle of beer in his car. A fourth was issued when Sotomayor allegedly refused to take a Breathalyzer test after being pulled over.
Upon receiving his fifth DWI on May 16, police also found Sotomayor to be in the possession of Oxycodone.
After failing to show up for a court appearance on Thursday, June 28, a warrant was sent out for Sotomayor’s arrest.
Following his arrest, Sotomayor spent about one month in county jail on a drug charge of illegal use of Oxycodone. However, he was released after posting a $20,000 bail bond.
Sotomayor maintained that he was innocent and that the Oxycodone pills found were prescribed by a doctor.
Friday’s hearing was to address a motion of dismissal, filed by Sotomayor’s defense attorney, Suehail Perez.
Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Pennino did not feel the circumstances qualified for dismissal.
“After reviewing the case, I do not feel the charge fits the criteria for dismissal,” Pennino said.
Sotomayor’s defense attorney provided verification that the pills were, in fact, prescribed by a doctor.
“Based on the credible witness testimony of Mr. Sotomayor’s doctor, it was confirmed that the drugs found were prescribed,” said Perez. “I would recommend a motion for dismissal.”
Sotomayor will appear in court again Nov. 13 to determine whether he will face trial on two other charges, third-degree drug possession and a fourth-degree contempt.
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Contact Spencer Kent at 856-451-1000 ext. 516 or at skent@southjerseymedia.com.