Darren Loyce Windsor
La Plata, MD – The man who was driving in an alcohol-fueled crash that claimed the life of 20-year-old Autumn Jenkins April 28 in Nanjemoy will not be getting back behind the wheel any time soon.
On Wednesday, Dec. 2 in La Plata, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier upheld an earlier decree by Judge Helen I. Harrington that Darren Loyce Windsor, 24, of Indian Head, would not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle.
Windsor is facing a jury trial next spring and faces three counts of negligent manslaughter while driving an auto, negligent homicide while driving a car under the influence and driving while intoxicated.
Defense Attorney Bill Renahan argued that his client needs to support his family and asked the court to allow the defendant to drive with an interlock system installed in his vehicle.
“Under Maryland law, this man has no prior violations whatsoever,” Renahan argued. “He has a child to support. He has no traffic violations. We have entered a plea of not guilty and the case is scheduled to go to trial March 7-8. He’s being singled out because someone was killed. Anyone else would be allowed to have the interlock system placed in their car.”
Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah K. Freeman objected to the request.
“The father of the deceased is in the courtroom,” Freeman said. “He is opposed to this motion. This man was driving the car that killed Autumn Jenkins. He had a blood alcohol content of .14, after being tested three hours after the accident. It would have been higher if he had been tested earlier.”
Freeman added that Windsor was found to have a derivative of Xanax in his system, which he did not have a prescription for.
“An interlock system will not take care of his alcohol and drug addiction,” she said.
Renahan objected to the state’s assertion that his client has a drug addiction.
“There is no evidence of that,” he said.
“He was taking Xanax without a prescription,” Freeman countered. “He tested positive. The state is asking that the restriction remain in place.”
“If he is operating heavy equipment, I’d be okay with that,” Bragunier said. “I want you to be able to get to work and allow you to operate machinery at your job, but I will not allow you to operate a motor vehicle on a highway.”
“He has no priors, your honor,” Renahan said.
“He needs to figure it out,” the judge said. “That’s what I’m willing to do.”
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com
