A jury found an Eldred man guilty of driving under the influence today in
McKean County Court.
The Jury determined that 22-year-old Jason Laktash was driving in Port
Allegany in December of 2004 with a blood alcohol content of point one six.
He drove into a ditch on Newell Creek Road after taking a friend home, and
damaged part of the yard and the driveway.
He's scheduled for sentencing on March 16th.

Most people don't dispute DUI charges. But Laktash's defense presented by
Attorney HB Fink went as such:

Laktash says he had consumed an insignificant amount of alcohol, and was not
intoxicated, when he drove his girlfriend home. After dropping her off, he
had an accident.

The property owner called the Police, thinking Laktash's behavior was
suspicious.

Port Allegany Police Officer Distrolla followed Laktash into Port Allegany,
but because the incident occurred outside of the Boro, he had to call for
the State Police.

While following Laktash, he lost him, looped back around and saw Laktash's
car at Moe's Bar.

At that point, Laktash's blood alcohol content increased significantly.

Laktash told the court he did not intend to drive after that.

Of course, the jury says there was no reasonable doubt that Laktash broke
the DUI laws.