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Virginia Lawmaker Takes Plea in DUI Arrest

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) - A Virginia state lawmaker has pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that state Del. Matthew James made a plea agreement Monday that allows him to avoid jail time if he stays out of trouble for the next year.

He also will need a restricted license to drive and an ignition interlock for six months.

Police said he had a blood alcohol content of 0.18 after he was arrested last year.

James is a Democrat who represents parts of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk. He declined to comment on the plea agreement or whether he planned to run for re-election.

His name will appear on the ballot. He was the only candidate to seek the Democratic nomination this spring.

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Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.