Woman with 0.241 BAC pleads guilty to second DUI; judge orders short jail term and probation

Latoya Denise Buckley pleaded guilty May 20 in Clayton County State Court to driving under the influence after a blood sample taken in July 2021 returned a 0.241 result, the prosecutor said.

Judge Tammy Long Hayward accepted the plea, ordered 12 months to serve with credit for three days already served, and placed the balance on probation. The sentence includes a substance-abuse evaluation and any recommended treatment, 40 hours of community service, random alcohol and drug testing, a DUI risk-reduction course and a $500 fine; the judge said surcharges will increase the total owed.

The state described the July 16, 2021, investigation as beginning in the parking lot of a Church's Chicken, where officers were told Buckley had fallen asleep in a drive-through lane and had ``slurred eyes, which were glossy and bloodshot,'' and that she admitted to drinking. The prosecutor said officers read Buckley Georgia's implied-consent warning and obtained a blood sample that yielded a 0.241 BAC.

Defense attorney Mr. Lynch confirmed his client would enter the negotiated plea. The prosecutor characterized the offense as a second DUI in Buckley’s lifetime; during the plea colloquy the court noted the high BAC and urged Buckley to seek treatment. The court instructed Buckley to meet with probation staff immediately to address reporting, treatment and any transportation issues.

The judge told Buckley, ``The quickest way to get rearrested is to fail to complete your probation reports,'' and asked her to contact probation if she anticipated compliance problems.

Count 2 was merged into count 1 for sentencing, the court said.