DWI Trial Begins Wed. for Beach Official

A two-hour trial for a beach official facing driving while intoxicated and conduct after an accident charges is still on for 1 p.m. Wednesday in Hampton District Court.

The trial for Jude David, the chairwoman of the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival and the state parks facilities manager for Hampton Beach, was set to begin earlier this month.

The start of the trial was pushed back to Feb. 20, though, after a defense motion for a continuance was accepted by Hampton Police Sgt. Joe Galvin, the prosecutor on the case.

David was arrested in October on one count each of DWI and conduct after an accident after hitting a parked car at the 401 Tavern and failing a field sobriety test. David allegedly hit a parked vehicle at the downtown Hampton restaurant at about 11:03 p.m. on Oct. 13 before parking in a space away from the damaged car.

Witnesses have told the Hampton Union that David allegedly "appeared to try to use her influence to get out of being arrested — by citing connections to well-known town and state officials." Police have declined comment about those claims.

David has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

If convicted on the Class B misdemeanors, David won't face jail time, although she could be assessed various monetary penalties and could lose her license, according to state statutes.