NASHVILLE (AP) - State Rep. Curry Todd waived a preliminary hearing on drunken driving and weapon charges and his case was sent to a grand jury on Tuesday.
The Collierville Republican lawmaker's case was in General Sessions Court in Nashville before Judge Michael F. Mondelli.
Todd was arrested on charges of drunken driving and carrying a loaded handgun while intoxicated when police stopped his vehicle in a neighborhood near Vanderbilt and Belmont universities on Oct. 11. He's also charged with violating Tennessee's implied consent law by refusing to submit to a breath-alcohol test.
Todd is a retired Memphis police officer and the main architect of a state law allowing handgun carry permit holders to be armed in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.
He stepped down as chairman of the House State and Local Government Committee after his arrest.
Worrick Robinson, Todd's attorney, told reporters outside the courtroom that p rosecutors could have used a new statute and scheduled a hearing on the implied consent issue, but waived their opportunity and bound it over with the other charges.
Todd did not talk to the media. However, Robinson said the case is "weighing heavily" on his client.
"You want to try to resolve your case," Robinson said. "But if you're going to resolve it, you have to resolve it in a way that you can live with, and that you're comfortable with. And we're not there."
Robinson said he's not sure when the grand jury will get the case. Until then, he said he will continue to review it to make sure decisions are made that are in Todd's best interest.
"You can't always evaluate the case totally early on," Robinson said. "This would give us some additional time to look at everything, to make sure we've covered all the bases and decide whether or not there's an opportunity to work out or resolve the case with the DA's office."