Modoc County DA pleads no contest to drunken driving charge

Friday, June 6, 1997 | 5:47 a.m.

Comisky, 53, was fined more than $900 when sentenced May 28 by Justice of the Peace Edward Dannan.

He also was directed to attend classes for drunken drivers and ordered to perform 48 hours of community service.

Comisky said he did not want to challenge the charges stemming from his March 17 arrest.

"I felt that I owed it to the public to act consistently with what I promised to do," Comisky said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's over."

Comisky was arrested around 2 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day on a routine registration check after leaving a downtown Reno bar.

He had a blood-alcohol content of 0.13 percent, above the 0.10 percent standard that constitutes drunken driving in Nevada.

Nevada law also prohibits anyone who is drunk from carrying a firearm, even if they have a permit.

At the time of his arrest, Comisky had a Colt .45 that he routinely wears and a small pistol.

Comisky has served as Modoc's district attorney since September 1995.

He issued an apology after his arrest.

"I committed a gross error of judgment in that I apparently had more than I should have had to drink. I fully intend to be responsible for the consequences of my actions, in the same manner as anyone else," he said.

He also apologized to his family, the board of supervisors and the community "for the embarrassment that I have caused you and assure you all that this sort of thing will never happen again."

Comisky said he has not had any alcohol since the incident.