DUI RAP NOT FIRST RODEO
FOR NEWS ANCHOR LEON HARRIS

TEN DAYS IN JAIL FOR VETERAN DWI DRIVER

NEWS 4 ANCHOR LEON HARRIS THREE TIME DUI DRIVER; JAILED IN GEORGIA; EASY DEAL IN 2013 WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY MCCARTHY

By Ken Rossignol
THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY

Leon Harris delivered an on-air apology to the viewers of WRC news in Washington on March 18, 2022, and without mentioning his prior DUI arrests in Georgia and in Maryland, said he was sorry for being busted in January of 2022.  Harris was arrested when he slammed into the rear of another vehicle on Bradley Blvd. in Bethesda and caused that vehicle to ram into yet another vehicle in front of that one.

Montgomery County Police gave Harris a roadside breath test and his bad breath registered him as twice the legal limit for operating a vehicle in Maryland.  

Harris was also charged with trying to flee the police, a curious move on the part of an experienced DUI driver who should know that the flatfoots are far more fleetfooted than he and also that the long arm of the law would reach out to him, even in the newsroom of NBC4 on Nebraska Ave. in DC.  

Court records in Maryland show Leon McDonald Harris Jr, (DOB 4/20/1961) of 9860 Avenel Farm Road, Potomac, Maryland, was arrested on August 9, 2012, for DUI by Montgomery County Police Officer C. Whorton.  On March 4, 2013, Harris entered a guilty plea before District Court Judge Eugene Wolfe.

 With the consent of Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy, a sweet plea deal for Harris gave him a verdict of Probation Before Judgement, a fine of $300.00, and a list of twenty-three conditions of the plea deal including that he attend sessions conducted by MADD to discuss victim impact, to cease his abuse of alcohol or any other drug or substance, to enroll and pay for treatment at a rehab center. A probation period ended on Sept. 4, 2014, which for a repeat offender DUI driver wasn’t very long.

WHILE WORKING AS ANCHOR FOR CNN, HARRIS BUSTED FOR DUI; SPENT THREE DAYS IN SLAMMER, AND WAS GIVEN COMMUNITY SERVICE WITH NAACP YOUTH GROUP

DeKalb County Georgia court records reveal that Leon McDonald Harris Jr was arrested for DUI by DeKalb Police Officer M. D. Roe and was found guilty by Judge Johnny Panos for Driving while under the influence of alcohol and speeding on April 15, 2004.  Harris was sentenced to serve three days in jail and given credit for one day already spent behind bars; and pay a fine of $2300.

_X__  1) Defendant is to serve _3_()hrs, (X)days, ()months in custody and may serve remaining_12_()hrs, ()days, (X)months on probation – CREDIT 1 DAY   _X__  3) Total fine and fees $ 2350.00 FINE PAID IN FULL / REC# 98814  ___  4) As an alternative to confinement, the defendant may perform ____()hours, () days of community service at times and places to be specified by the Probation Office  ___  5) Defendant shall report to DeKalb County Jail on ____________at______o’clock am/pm  _X__  6) Defendant is to attend a Risk Reduction Program and/or undergo Alcohol evaluation & treatment as directed by probation, and show proof of same to the probation dept  _X__  7) Defendant shall pay $_18.00_ per month supervision fee  _X__  8) Defendant may convert fine and fees to community service at the rate of $6.00 per hour  ___  9) Defendant is to submit to random screenings of blood, breath, urine or other bodily substances  _X__10) Defendant is to perform _101__hrs of community service   **  CREDIT 42 HOURS COMPLETED  _X__11) Non-Reporting Probation once all conditions are met   _X__12)
Other: –  LICENSE SUSPENDED – MAY REPORT BY MAIL OR PHONE – MAY PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE WITH THE DEKALB NAACP YOUTH COUNCIL – WILL SERVE REMAINING JAIL TIME IN COURT UNTIL 5:00 PM & 4/16/04 FROM 9 – 5  /SK/

FROM NBC4: Leon Harris, an anchor at News4, was arrested and charged with DUI Saturday following a car crash in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Harris was driving along Bradley Boulevard near River Road when his vehicle rear-ended another car, a Montgomery County police report said. The vehicle that police said Harris’ car struck then collided with a third car.

No one was seriously injured, police said.

LEON HARRIS TRIED TO GIVE COPS THE SLIP

When officers arrived, Harris tried to leave the scene but was stopped by police, according to the police report.

Harris failed a field sobriety test, police said. The arrest report said officers conducted a breathalyzer test and that Harris’ result was twice the legal limit of .08% BAC.

WJLA REPORTED TWO PRIOR DUI’S FOR IT’S FORMER NEWS ANCHOR

Harris was previously arrested for DUI in 2012 in Montgomery County. Court records show he was also arrested in 2003 for DUI in DeKalb County, Georgia.

Harris was previously a news anchor at WJLA.

NBC4 management is not commenting on Harris’ arrest at this time, but NBC4 is reporting he will not be appearing on-air as the investigation continues.

THIRD TIME THE CHARM; HARRIS SAYS HE IS GOING TO COMMIT HIMSELF FOR TREATMENT

“I have decided to take some time away to deal with an issue that took me a long time to accept. I am thankful to everyone for their support and understanding. I’m sorry to those I have hurt or let down. I hope to return as a healthier person,” Harris said in a statement provided to NBC4 on Feb. 7.

Harris faces a total of nine charges including driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (DWI); driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol (DUI); attempt by the driver to elude police in an official police vehicle by failing to stop; and failure to control vehicle speed on the highway to avoid a collision.

Many of you know that I made a terrible mistake one night in January.

After drinking, I decided to get into my car and drive. This is the worst decision I could possibly have made.

I have thanked God every day that —since that night — the accident did not result in someone’s death. I put the safety of others at risk; for that, I cannot apologize enough.

I also cannot apologize enough to my colleagues here at News4 — nor to you —our viewers.

I know you trust and rely upon us not just for news and information but for our judgment and for the example, we set for our community every day.

Because of that, I know I let a lot of people down.

That’s why I decided on my own to take some time to reflect and to do some intensive work on myself with some very tough professionals to get control of this disease of alcoholism — work that is still in progress.

On NBC4

LEON HARRISMAR 18

A Message From Leon Harris to News4 Viewers

I’ve learned this problem is treatable and it is possible to embrace recovery and sobriety. 

With the help of family, friends, and professional advisors, I have sought out help to do just that.

While that work is ongoing, I want you to know how deeply I appreciate the messages of support from so many of you.

I truly understand what a privilege it is to sit in this chair and I commit to you that I will do whatever it takes to honor this and to re-earn your trust.

I have to thank the leadership here at NBC4 for allowing me to address this.

Their support has given me the strength to address this illness and to become a better person for them, for my family, and for you.

Thank you.

CONDITIONS OF 2013 CONVICTION OF LEON HARRIS FOR DUI IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY:

Condition – Adult

1. Report as directed and follow Supervisor’s instructions, REPORT AS DIRECTED, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 2. Supervision Fee Waived, PAY P&P SUPERVISION FEE – WAIVED, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 3. Work or attend school regularly as directed, WORK OR ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 4. Permission from Sup. before changing addr,job, leaving state, GET PERMISSION TO MOVE, LEAVE STATE ETC, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 5. Obey all laws and incur no serious motor violation, OBEY ALL LAWS; NO SERIOUS MV VIOLATIONS, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 6. Notify Supervisor if charged with criminal/jailable offense, NOTIFY SUPERVISOR IF CHARGED W/OFFENSE, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 7. Permit your Supervisor to visit your home unannounced, PERMIT SUPERVISOR TO VISIT HOME, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 8. Do not illegally possess/use/sell controlled substance, DO NOT ILLEGALLY POSSESS/SELL CDS ETC., 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 9. Appear in court when notified to do so, APPEAR IN COURT WHEN NOTIFIED, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 10. Pay fines/costs/restitutions/fees as ordered by the court, PAY ALL FINES, COSTS, ETC. AS ORDERED, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 11. Totally abstain from alcohol and abusive use of any drug, ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL, USE OF DRUG, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 12. Enroll in, pay for, and complete treatment at ___(facility), ENROLL IN AND COMPLETE TREATMENT AT D.A. WYNNE, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 13. Attend Victim Impact Panel meetings when notified, ATTEND VICTIM IMPACT PANEL MEETINGS REPORT 04/18/13 AT 06:30 PM, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 14. Other, MADD-UMD AT 9630 GUDELSKY DR BLDG I-134, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 15. Other, AUDITORIUM ROCKVILLE, MD 20850 W/$35, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 16. Other, MONEY ORDER, ABOVE ADD IS LOCATION OF, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 17. Other, COND. #22 ATTEND BY5/31/13-MADD CAN BE, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 18. Other, AT LOCATION ARRANGED BY ATTY.COND 11-, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 19. Other, DELETE ABUSIVE USE OF ANY DRUG.SUPERVIS, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 20. Other, PROB ABATES AFTER COND10, 18&22 DONE., 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 21. Other, DEF TO CONT W/AFTERCARE AT DA WYNNE., 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 22. Other, DDMP SUPV NOT REQUIRED FOR AFTERCARE., 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013 23. Other, DDMP.DEF CAN LEAVE MD FOR WORK PURPOSE, 03/04/2013, Active 03/04/2013