Retired judge arrested for drunk driving and running over woman in São Paulo

A 61-year-old retired judge was arrested on Thursday morning, the 24th, after running over a cyclist in the city of Araçatuba, in the interior of the state.

Civil Police reports indicate that the judge, identified as Fernando Augusto Fontes Rodrigues Júnior, was drunk at the time of the accident. The report is attempting to contact his defense.

The victim, Thais Bonatti, 30, is hospitalized in serious condition.

According to the police report, the incident occurred on Waldemar Alves Avenue in the Jardim Presidente neighborhood. Júnior was driving a Ford Ranger pickup truck when he stopped near a supermarket unloading area.

The police report states that a woman with him tried to sit on his lap. At that moment, the retired judge accelerated his car and ran over the cyclist with his truck.

When the Military Police arrived at the scene, Thais had already been taken to the emergency room. Officers arrived and determined that the victim was in critical condition. Forensic experts were called in to investigate.

Júnior was taken to the Sectional Police Station and subjected to a clinical drunkenness test. The medical examiner confirmed that the judge was "drunk/intoxicated." A guarantor judge was also called to monitor the incident.

The police arrested the magistrate and, subsequently, his arrest in flagrante delicto was converted into a preventive arrest (without a pre-defined period).

Fernando Júnior was indicted for negligent bodily harm and sent to a special cell at the Penápolis Public Prison, in the interior of the state, where he will await a custody hearing.