Decathlon champ Bill Toomey pleads to DUI charge after crashing Mercedes-Benz
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Bill Toomey, the 1968 Olympic decathlon champion, pleaded no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs after crashing his Mercedes-Benz into two parked cars.
The 69-year-old Toomey entered the plea Tuesday, Sheryl Wolcott, a deputy district attorney for San Luis Obispo County, said Wednesday.
He was scheduled to be sentenced on April 22. Wolcott said Toomey was expected to receive the typical sentence for a first-time DUI offense, which includes two days in jail, minus one day for time served, and three years probation. Toomey also was expected to be fined $1,726 and ordered to make restitution for the damage he caused and attend an alcohol education program.
Toomey, a former county resident, was arrested on May 24 after his car hit two parked vehicles.
His attorney, Christopher Casciola, has said that he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.04 percent, only half the legal limit, and that the crash resulted from Toomey taking a prescription sleep aid.
Toomey had not intended to leave home that night, his attorney has said.
‘‘This case is a combination of alcohol and prescription drugs,’’ Wolcott said.
Toomey’s attorney said the cost of going to trial led his client to enter the plea.
‘‘Because of the nature of the charge it would be necessary for us to hire a toxicology expert, a pharmaceutical expert and physician,’’ Casciola told The Tribune of San Luis Obispo on Tuesday. ‘‘Add up those bills, and they would have probably been in the five figures.’’
A call to Casciola seeking comment was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Toomey has been a motivational speaker and has his own line of nutritional supplements, according to his Web site.