CLEARFIELD – A Penfield man is facing charges for allegedly driving under the influence of a controlled substance with two children in his vehicle.
David Lichvar, 37, is charged by Trooper Jonathan W. Uren of the Clearfield-based state police with two felony counts of endangering the welfare of children, misdemeanor DUI/controlled substance and one summary.
Lichvar waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge Mike Morris, Uren was on routine patrol at approximately 9:33 p.m. March 17 and in a stationary position near the intersection of Fullerton Street and Riverview Road in Lawrence Township.
From there, he observed a silver Honda come to stop before crossing the railroad tracks. The trooper followed the vehicle, which was traveling at approximately 12 miles per hour in a 35-miles-per-hour zone; it continued onto Turnpike Avenue traveling at the same speed only in a 25-miles-per-hour zone.
The driver reportedly signaled to turn and began to slow well beyond the traffic light to make a right onto Nichols Street. Uren subsequently activated his emergency lights and stopped the vehicle near the intersection of Turnpike Avenue and Nichols Street in Clearfield Borough.
When Uren approached the vehicle, he observed two adults in the front seat and two young children in child seats in the rear of the vehicle. The driver was identified as Lichvar via his Pennsylvania photo identification.
Uren advised Lichvar he was traveling around 10 miles per hour, and Lichvar said he was being “extra cautious” because the trooper had stopped him the other night. Because Lichvar was visibly shaking, Uren asked him when he’d last used drugs.
Lichvar told the trooper he didn’t use but was on “psych meds.” His passenger, Rebecca Shirey, 35, of Grampian was also identified via her Pennsylvania photo ID and Uren asked Lichvar to exit the vehicle for the purpose of field sobriety testing.
During the testing, Lichvar reportedly showed signs of impairment. He also admitted to having smoked marijuana approximately 40 minutes before driving, according to the affidavit.
Shirey was originally charged with two felony counts of endangering the welfare of children and misdemeanor use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
However, she had both felony child endangerment charges dismissed and the misdemeanor use/possession of drug paraphernalia charge held for county court following her preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Both Lichvar and Shirey had their bail modified from $5,000 monetary to unsecured.
