State v. Stas, A-14 September Term 2011; Supreme Court; opinion by Patterson, J.; decided September 12, 2012. On certification to the Appellate Division. [Sat below: Judges Cuff and Simonelli in the Appellate Division; Judge Honigfeld in the Law Division.] DDS No. 14-1-7658 [33 pp.]
Defendant Manaf Stas and Joseph Putz were involved in an auto accident in a minivan owned by defendant’s sister minutes after leaving a bar where both had been drinking. After police arrived on the scene, Putz told the investigating police officer that he had been driving the van at the time of the accident. After failing field sobriety tests, Putz was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a).
