DOJ SECURES GUILTY PLEA IN FORMER POLICE CHIEF DUI CASE

Sussex County, DE - A former Clayton Police Chief has accepted a plea agreement to resolve charges stemming from a drunk driving incident that occurred in January 2025.

On April 14, Carl Hutson of Federica, Delaware, pled guilty to Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and entered the First Offender's Program. As part of the program, Hutson will have his driver's license suspended for one year, must pay a fine of $250, complete a DUI education course, and use an Ignition Interlock Device when he resumes driving after one year. This plea comes after an investigation conducted by the Milford Police Department.

"It is simply unacceptable for anyone to get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of alcohol," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "Drunk driving incidents, especially by those who should know better, are unfortunately common and can lead to devastating, lifelong, or even fatal consequences. We are extremely fortunate that no one was injured in this case, and we hope that treatment and accountability will keep the defendant a one-time offender."

On January 3, 2025, Hutson, 49, drove his vehicle under the influence of alcohol and was observed traveling the wrong way on North Church Street in Milford, Delaware. He failed field sobriety tests and registered a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.17 on a breathalyzer. Fortunately, there was no collision.