Republican Kansas State Senator, Gene Suellentrop pleaded ‘No Contest’ yesterday to Misdemeanor Drunk Driving and Reckless Driving charges, after he was arrested earlier this year for driving drunk the wrong way on Interstate 70 in Topeka and evading police.
The agreement means a Felony Charge of Evading Police is dropped. The Sentence orders him to spend 48 hours in jail as well as 12 months on probation. He reports to the Shawnee County Jail November 18th at noon. Suellentrop will also pay a $775 fine and will have an Ignition Interlock Device, a breathalyzer-type machine, on his vehicle to ensure he remains sober. The plea won’t immediately mean the end of his political career. State Law says anyone convicted of a Felony can’t hold public office, but the Plea Deal means he will only be convicted of Misdemeanors.
An officer said Suellentrop drove the wrong way on I-70 in Topeka and other cars swerved to avoid a crash on the highway. The statement said Suellentrop raced to avoid police and later called an officer “donut boy” and said he could “take” the officer in a fight.
