Driving after suspension charge dropped against Windham man

LEWISTON – A Maine District Court judge has dropped a charge of driving after license suspension against a logging truck driver who was arrested earlier this week, but several other charges against Vaughn Hardesty Jr. remain.

Hardesty, of Windham, pleaded innocent Wednesday to charges of second-offense operating under the influence, driving to endanger, failure to stop for an officer, and violation of condition of release.

Norway police initially charged Hardesty with operating after suspension also, but said Wednesday they had received inaccurate information about his license status from state police after they arrested Hardesty. His license was actually valid at the time.

The error prompted an assistant district attorney, Joe O’Connor, to say that the state’s system for keeping track of drivers’ records is failing the courts and the public. “It’s beyond the breaking point,” said O’Connor. “It’s broken.”

The state Bureau of Motor Vehicles record on Hardesty’s license status shows it was valid, and the agency did not provide information it had been suspended, said Deputy Secretary of State Doug Dunbar.

“It’s unclear how contrary information was obtained,” Dunbar said.

Hardesty appeared in court Wednesday to answer to several charges related to an incident Monday in which several motorists said they were forced off the road by a log truck driven by Hardesty. While the record shows he had a valid license, it also shows a dozen previous suspensions.