Trooper drunk driving case will be retried.

Seymour

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. 

LUDINGTON — Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Spaniola announced today that his office would retry Michigan State Police Trooper Sammy Seymour for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Seymour was arrested on Jan. 17, 2015 by Ludington Police Department and charged with OWI and with open container. OWI is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 93 days in the county jail. Seymour was also suspended from his job at the Cadillac MSP post.

Seymour turned down a plea offer from the prosecutor and chose to take his case to trial. After a two day trial in 79th District Court, a six person jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict Tuesday evening, leaving Judge Pete Wadel no choice but to declare a mistrial. Attorneys were not allowed to disclose Seymour’s profession during the trial. Judge Wadel sited that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which allows for equal protection under the law. Wadel also disallowed the disclosure of Seymour’s blood alcohol content.

“The law applies equally to all persons, no matter what their occupation is,” Spaniola said. “We feel that a jury should decide his case based upon the facts and evidence of it. Trooper Seymour remains innocent of the charges he faces unless proven guilty in court.”

Judge Wadel stated Tuesday, after dismissing the jury, that he would set a new pre-trial date. During this time, it is likely the prosecution will again offer Seymour a plea agreement.