Donald Peter Else looks to family and friends Wednesday as he enters the courtroom of Carroll County Magistrate Judge James Hopkins for his first appearance hearing. (Photo by Cliff Williams/Times-Georgian)
Donald Peter Else, 21, will remain in custody at the Carroll County jail following his appearance in court on 18 total charges.
Else, who wore the standard issue orange pants and shirt with his hands restrained, told Judge James Hopkins after the warrants were read that he understood the charges.
Georgia State Patrol officers said Else caused three separate wrecks on and near Highway 113 Tuesday afternoon.
Else allegedly caused a wreck in Temple around 4 p.m., before driving toward Carrollton on Highway 113, where he allegedly caused another accident just north of West Hickory Level Road, said Corp. J.T. McMillan of the state patrol.
Leaving the scene of that accident with a flat tire, Else then turned onto West Hickory Level Road, where he crossed over the center line before crashing into a ditch, where he was found and arrested, McMillan said.
The state patrol has charged the Bremen man with 12 offenses, with Temple Police Department adding six more for the initial crash that occurred in Temple city limits.
A female victim involved in the second crash was flown by helicopter to Atlanta Medical Center, where she was treated for a collapsed lung and broken ribs, among other injuries. The woman is currently in stable condition at the hospital.
Hopkins read Else his rights, including his right to remain silent and right to a speedy trial by jury.
The judge then read and signed the 18 arrest warrants, telling Else each of the charges. Seventeen of the charges are misdemeanors, with one (possession of a controlled substance) being a felony charge.
Each of the 17 misdemeanors carry a maximum penalty of one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, and the felony charge carries a minimum penalty of one year in prison and a maximum of five years.
Else faces a maximum penalty of 22 years in confinement.
The judge told Else that the next regularly scheduled grand jury would be impaneled in April, at which time he will have the right to be indicted.
The state patrol charged Else with two counts of driving too fast for conditions, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident with injury, driving on the wrong side of the road, DUI, failure to maintain lane, possession of prescription drugs not in original container, reckless driving, tire requirements and possession of alcoholic beverage.
The possession of a controlled substance charge came once Else made it to Carroll County jail, when officers found clonazepam pills in his pants pocket.
Hopkins said Else has a prior criminal history including a theft charge and two DUI convictions in 2011 and last May.
During the hearing, Else told Hopkins that he has hired attorney Daniel Anderson.