Starbuck Mayor Charged With DUI

DAYTON - Starbuck Mayor Darcy Linklater has been charged with driving under the influence and will appear in Columbia County District Court to enter his plea on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

Columbia County Sheriff's records indicate Linklater was stopped at 11:20 p.m. Sunday night on McKay-Alto Road headed to Waitsburg after a possible DUI tip was called in to dispatch.

Linklater refused to take the breath test for blood alcohol content, according to county prosecutor Rea Culwell. He was arrested, issued a criminal citation charging him with the DUI, and booked into Columbia County jail.

Linklater was released Monday afternoon after appearing before a judge to set the date for his arraignment.

Linklater, 62, was elected mayor just over a year ago as a write in. He's not up for re-election for another three years.

The prosecutor's office is still conducting its investigation, but Linklater's wife, Verna Foley, told the Times on Tuesday afternoon that Linklater hasn't had any other DUI arrests in the few years they've been married.

Driving under the influence is a gross misdemeanor and a conviction can lead to a maximum of 365 days in jail and a $5,000 fine, Culwell said. In addition, the judge is likely to order some kind of addiction treatment, she said.