Took a Wrong Turn? Man Strolls Into Court 22 Years After OUI Arrest

On July 29, 1994, Alexander Richey was due in court for an OUI arrest but never showed up. That's when his warrant entered into a long-unfulfilled existence.

Richey, who lives in South Carolina, finally showed up to a Massachusetts court to plead out his case. His acquiescence to justice only took him until Nov. 16.

Of 2016.

Richey walked into Hingham District Court Wednesday, 22 years after skipping out on a court date, according to Hingham Sgt. Steven Dearth. Age 31 when arrested, Richey showed up at court a 54-year-old man.

Here's the timeline, according to Dearth: On July 1, 1994, at 1:04 a.m., Officer James Foss clocked the tractor part of a tractor-trailer driving 59 miles per hour in a 45 zone on Route 3A. Foss said the vehicle continued to travel for about a minute before pulling over.

Foss approached the driver side and asked the man why he didn't stop immediately. A second man, Richey, leaned into the driver side and allegedly yelled that the speed limit was 55 mph. Foss noticed a glassy-eyed Richey was slurring his speech, so he asked him to step out of the cab.

The man in the driver seat then told Foss that Richey had been driving, and the delay in pulling over was because the two men switched seats. Richey, the man said, had been at the bar drinking.

Richey, who lived in Illinois working as a trucker at the time, was arrested and arraigned that day for operating under the influence of alcohol and operating with a suspended license. He was also charged with speeding, and was due to return to court later that month.

That was the last time the police would see him for more than two decades.

Dearth said skipping out on the court date may have finally caught up to Richey, who now lives in South Carolina. While a first-offense misdemeanor won't result in extradition, the states' connecting systems and the outstanding warrant meant he wasn't able to renew his license.

"That was the motivating factor," said Dearth.

Richey was sentenced Wednesday to one year of probation, lost his license for 45 days, had to pay numerous statutory fines and fees and was ordered to complete an alcohol education program. He also has to write an apology letter to the officer.

Richey told the judge he has been sober for 20 years, according to Dearth.

Police did hear from Richey before Wednesday. He faxed a letter in 2007 saying he wanted to resolve the issue but did not want to come to Massachusetts.

If Richey had any hope of having the case dismissed after more than two decades on ice, he would have been mistaken. Foss is still on the force 22 years later and had no problem recalling the arrest — there aren't many tractors in the suburbs, Dearth said.