Kent County sheriff charged with DUI

James Higdon pulled over and charged with an excessive blood alcohol level.

 Kent County Sheriff James Higdon was charged with DUI Saturday night.  He was pulled over by a state trooper while traveling in his wife’s Ford Explorer just before midnight.

A copy of the summons obtained by WHYY says  Higdon had a blood alcohol level of 0.256%.  The legal limit in Delaware is 0.08%.  

The summons issued by the state trooper says the silver Explorer was stopped one-half mile south of Dover at the intersection South State Road and Emerson Drive.

Higdon is 57 years old.  He is one of 6 row officers elected to four year terms in Kent County. He has served as sheriff since 1995.  He is running for another term in November.  One of the primary duties of the sheriff’s office is to handle foreclosure of properties in Kent County.  Those auction’s traditionally happen the first Thursday of the month (one is taking place on June 3rd).

Late Tuesday afternoon Higdon spoke with WHYY’s Stephanie Aldrich.   He said, “I realize the importance of these charges.  All the facts are not in yet, which is why I have retained an attorney.”  

Higdon has hired Dover attorney Jim Liguori to represent him who has entered a not guilty plea and now they’re awaiting a date for the case to go to trial.