POUGHKEEPSIE – The trial scheduled for Monday, March 7, for Sarah Salem, Chairperson of the City of Poughkeepsie Common Council has been postponed again. Salem was originally arrested for DWI that included a car accident on February 26, 2020.
Just days before Salem was first due in court in March of 2020, the judicial system was paused due to the Coronavirus.
Salem was finally arraigned on the DWI charge in July of 2020.
The preliminary hearing of evidence against Salem was held in October of 2020. At the hearing, the arresting City of Poughkeepsie Police Officer testified that Salem had failed the field sobriety test at the scene of the Main Street crash. The officer also said that Salem had a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08% when she was processed at the police station.
Salem, who has a previous DWI arrest, is represented by Steven Patterson of McCabe Coleman Ventosa & Patterson.
City of Poughkeepsie Court Judge Frank Mora has presided over the numerous appearances in the case against Salem and he was scheduled to preside over the March 7 trial. Judge Mora was ordered out of the courtroom by an NYS Administrative Judge in January because he is unvaccinated. According to the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, the case has been postponed until later in the month to determine when the trial can begin.
Sources have told Mid-Hudson News that many of Judge Mora’s upcoming trials are being postponed until they can be scheduled in front of vaccinated judges.
