Defendant pleads guilty to reckless driving; judge sentences to probation, treatment and community service

Solomon Blankumse pleaded guilty June 5, 2025, in State Court of Clayton County to an amended charge of reckless driving, and Judge Tammy Long Hayward accepted a negotiated sentence that included probation, treatment conditions and a fine.

Blankumse appeared with defense counsel Corey Washington. The state indicated it would reduce the original DUI count to reckless driving and agreed to no‑pros three other traffic counts as part of the plea. The court advised the defendant of rights forfeited by a guilty plea before accepting it.

The prosecutor described facts from a September 18, 2023, road safety check in which officers observed an open container and requested field sobriety and chemical testing; the state described that the «LEHI Safe Act» limited pursuing a DUI less‑safe charge in this case and recommended resolution to reckless driving. The prosecutor recommended 12 months’ probation, a DUI risk‑reduction course, random alcohol and drug testing, a substance‑abuse evaluation and any ordered treatment, 40 hours of community service and a $300 fine.

Washington asked the court to consider allowing early termination of probation if the defendant completed required conditions. The prosecutor said the defendant could petition the court to request termination after satisfying conditions. Judge Hayward accepted the plea, entered a conviction on the amended reckless‑driving count, imposed the recommended probationary sentence and ordered the other counts nol prossed under the agreement.

The judge instructed Blankumse to report immediately to probation intake in Courtroom 305 for orientation and warned that failure to report could lead to rearrest. The court also informed the defendant about immigration consequences for non‑citizens and the rights given up by entering a guilty plea.