Kansas Sen. Gene Suellentrop pleaded no contest Monday to the facts that he was more than legally drunk in the wee hours of March 16, 2021, and drove at excessive speeds on the wrong side of Interstate 70.
The plea of no contest means he agrees he could be found guilty of the facts presented, but would not confess his guilt.
Judge Jason Geier saved him the trouble by charging him with driving under the influence and reckless driving.
Under the skillful work of his attorney, Suellentrop’s plea deal allows him to escape the more grievous level 9 felony charges first leveled for attempting to elude law enforcement officers and other things.
Suellentrop’s punishment is a hand slap: 48 hours in jail and court costs and fines, which Judge Geier said is in line for typical first-time DUI offenders.
BUT, OF COURSE, Suellentrop is not a “typical” offender.
At the time, he was Senate Majority Leader, and as such called the shots on what bills legislators discussed.
Once the news broke of his escapade, the Wichita Republican, also drunk on power, resisted yielding his post, despite pleas by fellow Republicans, including those of Senate President Ty Masterson.
At first it seemed Suellentrop would prevail. But when more facts emerged, more than three weeks later, the evidence was damning.
According to an officer’s report of the March 16 arrest, Suellentrop attempted to flee arrest and verbally abused law officers.
Suellentrop quickly — but, as it turns out, temporarily — fell from grace and Senate Republicans voted that he relinquish his leadership position.
Despite Monday’s charges, it appears Senate Republicans will take no further action against Suellentrop, who is serving his first term in the Senate. From 2009 to 2017, he was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives.
THE NIGHT Suellentrop was behind the wheel, his alcohol limit was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit. He was tracked going more than 90 mph the wrong way on I-70, as well as driving on the wrong side of I-470. Two drivers called 911 operators to say a white SUV, later determined as Suellentrop’s, nearly struck them. A highway patrol officer’s affidavit said several other cars swerved off the road to avoid Suellentrop’s careening vehicle.
Suellentrop failed to stop for a police roadblock and then drove around a tire-deflation device placed by officers. Once arrested, he verbally abused law officials.
That isn’t just the alcohol talking, it’s hubris.
And it doesn’t take much to envision a true tragedy if Suellentrop had caused a car accident.
