A Nottingham man will serve at least a month in prison for a “bizarre” DUI incident last year when he gave alcohol to Amish juveniles, then yelled “Rumspringa” while causing a collision with a horse-drawn buggy.
Thomas Candler Felts was sentenced Tuesday in Lancaster County Court after pleading guilty in March to misdemeanor counts of DUI and furnishing alcohol to minors.
County Judge Merrill Spahn ordered Felts serve 30 days to 6 months in prison, and a year of probation. Felts, 25, had no prior record which factored into state sentencing guidelines.
Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson told the judge it was one of the most “bizarre” DUI cases he’s ever seen.
Judge Spahn said it was one of the stranger set of events he’s come across in a case.
The Aug. 30 incident started in the early morning at a Turkey Hill store on Route 272, at Buck, where a group of Amish boys were with a horse-drawn buggy.
A man later identified as Candler Felts pulled into the parking lot and began talking to the group, which included juveniles, about “Rumspringa.”
Candler Felts showed the group his pistol and provided them cans of Yuengling Lager beer.
Candler Felts drove away in a red Dodge car and the Amish group left in the buggy.
Later, on Buck Heights Road, Candler Felts passed the buggy and screamed “Rumspringa.” He then stopped his vehicle abruptly, causing the buggy to strike the back of the Dodge. No one was seriously hurt.
Candler Felts then asked the Amish group where his pistol was; they replied they didn’t know.
Testing shortly after the collision determined Candler Felts’ blood-alcohol level was .126 percent. The state legal limit for drivers if .08 percent.
State Police Trooper James Fassnacht filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright