Woman arrested at arraignment on warrant after failing breathalyzer

A Wallace woman who showed up intoxicated to an arraignment hearing on July 20 in Perkins County for alleged charges of driving under the influence was arrested after the hearing on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in Lincoln County to enter a plea on the charges of child abuse. 

According to a report from the Perkins County Sheriff’s Office, on June 10, at 4:13 p.m. near Grainton, Megan M. Carey, 40, was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. A search warrant was obtained from the Perkins County Court to draw Carey’s blood for testing. 

Carey was not immediately arrested because she was transported by ambulance and under medical care following the incident. She was being admitted to the Perkins County

 Hospital, according to the Sheriff’s report. 

Blood alcohol test results later received from the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory indicated Carey’s blood alcohol level was .346. Carey was cited and released for Careless Driving, Driving Left of Center, Driving on Shoulder and Possession of an Open Alcohol Container at 7:27 p.m. on June 10th. 

The blood results were forwarded to the Perkins County Attorney’s Office with a request that Carey also be charged with Driving Under the Influence of alcohol, in addition to the initial charges. 

According to the Perkins County Sheriff’s Office’s report, Carey had been driven to her arraignment hearing on July 20. It was believed by members of the court that Carey was again under the influence of alcohol. The Court directed Carey to be tested to determine if she was under the influence of alcohol. 

A breath test administered at the Perkins Count Sheriff’s Office came back with a result of .273. The matter was referred to the Perkins County Attorney for a Contempt of Court charge. 

Carey was then arrested on a Lincoln County Court Bench Warrant that was in place for Carey for Failing to Appear in the Lincoln County Court to enter a plea on three counts of committing child abuse negligently without injury.

The Perkins County Sheriff’s Office transported Carey to Lincoln County and turned over to a Lincoln County Deputy who lodged Carey in the Lincoln County jail after she was unable to post a $5,000(10%). 

Carey is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing in Perkins County Court at 1 p.m. on Aug. 17 in relation to the June 10 charges.