Washington Co. sheriff’s deputy charged with DUI
A Washington County sheriff’s deputy was charged with driving under the influence nearly two months ago in Cambria County.
Paul Rock, 35, of Stockdale, was charged with first offense of DUI with a blood-alcohol content of 0.10, failure to stop at a red light, disregarding traffic signals, careless driving and other summary offenses, according to online court records.
The legal blood-alcohol limit in Pennsylvania is 0.08.
Rock was charged Nov. 29 in Cambria Township by District Judge Frederick S. Creany. He was arrested by state police in Ebensburg, who declined to provide the Observer-Reporter with the criminal complaint.
Washington County Sheriff Samuel Romano said Monday Rock made him aware of the charges in November.
“I learned about it the day after it happened,” Romano said.
Romano said Rock’s status with the department will be determined after his preliminary hearing March 17.
“He is still an active deputy until the preliminary hearing,” he said. “Then a decision will be made. There is no protocol for this. Everybody is innocent until proven guilty.”
Romano declined further comment citing an “on-going investigation.”
Rock’s Washington based attorney Christopher Blackwell did not return calls for comment.
In 2008, Romano, 49, of Canton Township, pleaded guilty to drunken driving after he was arrested in June in Elkins, W.Va. Tucker County Magistrate Riley Barb ordered him to pay a $100 fine and $239 in court costs. Romano did not have to serve a 24-hour jail sentence because he received credit for spending more than 14 hours at Tygart Valley Regional Jail following his arrest.