The Delaware Court of Common Pleas dismissed a driving under the influence charge against a defendant after concluding the roughly two-year gap between his arrest and scheduled jury trial unfairly prejudiced the case.
Chief Judge Alex J. Smalls said the defendant, Bryan Schoenbeck, was prejudiced because the trial delay caused him anxiety over whether he would be able to maintain his employment. If Schoenbeck was found guilty, he would have faced a mandatory jail sentence of at least 60 days, rendering him unable to report to work, which would ultimately have resulted in termination from his employment.
