A man appeared in Peachtree

City Municipal Court last week to face charges stemming

from an auto accident that wasn't even his fault.

Mark Stevens Gilmore pled

nolo contendre to marijuana possession and was given a

$1,235 fine. He also was advised to check with the

Georgia Department of Public Safety to see if the offense

merited an automatic suspension of his driver's license.

Gilmore was rear-ended

recently while driving in Peachtree City, and the ensuing

investigation at the accident scene uncovered the

marijuana. Police indicated that there was no evidence of

any unsafe driving on his part.

A charge of driving under

the influence was dismissed.

In an unrelated case, John

Steed saw his charge of driving under the influence

reduced to reckless driving, for which he pled nolo, and

he also faced a charge of underage alcohol possession.

Police answering an

anonymous call about a black Honda turning over portable

restrooms in the middle of the night stopped Steed's

vehicle, which did not match that description. He

registered .04 grams on a breath test, and was under the

age of 21, but due to questions about probable cause to

make the stop, the city recommended the reduced charge.

Steed received a $920 fine

for reckless driving and a $500 fine for underage alcohol

possession. He also is required to attend a two-day

seminar related to the alcohol possession.

Robert DiFrancisco received

first-offender status on charges of resisting and

obstruction of an officer. When police answered a

domestic call at his home involving his two sisters,

DiFrancisco verbally resisted the officers and placed his

hands on one of them, necessitating his arrest, according

to testimony.

He was fined $250 and given

six months probation.

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