Photo: CBS 12
A Treasure Coast judge is in trouble with the law.
Brett Waronicki of the 19th Judicial Circuit faces DUI charges after allegedly refusing to take a blood-alcohol test during a traffic stop.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek tells CBS 12 News that two other people in the vehicle with the judge are accused of cocaine possession.
He says this type of thing can happen to anyone if they make bad decisions.
"I'm sad that it's a judge but we've seen it with judges, preachers, lawyers, law enforcement...it's just something that we see in life period."
The sheriff says that anyone could fall into the trap of bad decision-making.
"I think when people start making decisions that compromise their moral platform, we see how this ends. It can happen to anybody if they started making concession. Poor decisions lead to another poor decision."
He says deputies got a tip that Waronicki was involved in drug activity at a local bar and had him under surveillance. He was stopped Wednesday night while driving a pickup truck in Jensen Beach and was unable to stay in one lane.
Deputies noted that the judge's eyes were bloodshot and he had slurred speech and the the strong odor of alcohol on his breath. There was also a small amount of white powder in Waronicki's wallet that tested positive for cocaine.
Another judge has released this judge on bond.