By Lisa Zahner | Last updated at 6:30 p.m.
VERO BEACH – After questioning 16 jurors separately and excusing five, attorneys for the prosecution and the defense have agreed on a jury of 6 plus one alternate for the Joe Baird DUI trial, and the court will begin hearing testimony Tuesday morning at 8:30 am. The jury will consist of five women and two men.
A larger-than-normal pool of 50 people was called in at about 10:30 a.m. Monday to be interviewed regarding their prior experience with the legal system and their ability to be impartial in the trial of the 52-year-old County Administrator, who was arrested on May 16 for DUI after a traffic stop just west of 6th Avenue on Miracle Mile in Vero Beach. The trial will begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday with Judge David Morgan presiding. Witnesses expected to be called include two City of Vero Beach police officers – one who pulled Baird over and one who administered the roadside sobriety tests – plus guests who were present at the Youth Guidance luau fundraiser, from which Baird was driving when he was stopped.
Physical evidence to be presented will include a video of the traffic stop and of some of the sobriety tests performed by Baird, as there is no breathalyzer or blood alcohol test evidence in this case.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney David Dodd. Attorney Bobby Guttridge is representing Baird and mounting the defense.
The arrest is Baird’s first DUI charge and there was no related accident or injury, so, if convicted, Baird would be subject to a $500 fine, up to one year probation, community service and, if the maximum penalty is applied, up to six months in the County jail.
As he is a 27-year employee of the County, if Baird is convicted of DUI, the Board of County Commissioners would be required to take up the issue of any disciplinary action against Baird within 30 days of the disposition of the case, according to the County’s Drug-Free Workplace Policy. The Board of County Commissioners is on vacation and meets again for its next regular session on September 8.
