James Bunner jokes about his new drink of choice.

“I get to drink water,” he quipped.

Bad decisions led him to water. Bunner’s crime: driving while intoxicated.

He could have kept his legal problems to himself. But he elected to share his experience with students to educate about the consequences of abusing alcohol.

Bunner understood Wright City Academy students felt some uneasiness over his ankle bracelet.

Bunner, and a second person who asked to not be identified, became the first graduates of the Warren County DWI Court program which was implemented October 2008. A graduation ceremony was held last Wednesday to celebrate their accomplishments.

“We have two sober, productive citizens,” Assistant Prosecutor Kate Busch said. “That is what this program is about.”

Wright City Parks Director Curt Kehoe, who served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker, was especially proud to see Bunner complete the program requirements. He remembers the person who began as a volunteer with the parks department and grew from there. Now Bunner is a part-time employee.

Kehoe hopes the position can expand to a full-time job in the future.

“He was real up-front on what had happened to him and the effect it had on his life,” Kehoe said. “He had to wear an ankle monitor. That sold me on that. He worked with (the students).”

 The DWI program is designed to give nonviolent repeat offenders a way to move on with their lives despite prior convictions

Unlike Drug Court, which has been a regular program in Warren County since 2002, successful completion of the DWI program will not erase an individual’s conviction. The program’s focus is on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.  

To graduate, a person must comply with numerous requirements to complete the three-phase program, which takes a minimum of 18 months to complete.

Part of the program’s conditions include attending weekly treatment sessions, meeting regularly with a parole officer, phoning in every day between 5:30-7:30 a.m., undergoing random drug and alcohol tests and obeying a 10 p.m. curfew. In addition, a police officer may visit  a participant’s home at anytime and search for any alcohol or drugs.

For Bunner, it was a challenge he was eager to take on.

“It was a lot of time from family and friends,” he said. “It wasn’t that difficult, but it’s how you look at it. I adjusted and took one day at a time.”

Graduates will spend at least one additional year on probation and, if no violations occur during that period, they are eligible for an early discharge review. The program currently has 17 other participants, Administrator Christie Becker-Markovich said.

Members of the DWI/Drug Court Team acknowledged the early unknown and difficulty of getting the program running, but noted that the end result will strengthen a community and families.

“Alcoholism got the better of them and they made poor choices,” Becker-Markovich said. “What we have seen and received from a DWI participant is the talent, taxpaying, trustworthy individual reappear to their family, friends and community.”

Also at last week’s graduation ceremony, Kehoe was recognized for his contributions to the Drug/DWI Court program. He was presented with a certificate of achievement from Presiding Judge Keith Sutherland.

Along with supporting Bunner’s employment, Kehoe has allowed other program participants to perform community service by volunteering for the parks department. He also allowed the program free use of Diekroeger Park last year for a luau party.

“He is an individual who has been behind this team and has been a huge supporter,” Becker-Markovich said. “He’s been allowing us to come to him over and over again without humility, without having to hear the word no. He has opened his arms and position as Wright City parks director to this program on numerous occasions.”