NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Tennessee lawmaker has pleaded no contest to a December 2024 drunk driving incident in Georgia.
East Tennessee State Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston) was arrested and charged in Glynn County, Georgia, following a hit-and-run incident on Jekyll Island on Dec. 3, 2024.
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According to Georgia law enforcement, troopers were notified to be on the lookout for a Ford Edge with Tennessee plates that was allegedly involved in the incident. Troopers located a vehicle matching the description in a market parking lot with emergency medical services.
EMS was reportedly on the scene treating someone who had tripped and fallen. The individual was identified as Yager.
Georgia authorities told News 2 troopers detected alcohol on Yager’s breath, and he reportedly admitted to being involved in a crash earlier but did not know law enforcement was en route. Yager consented to field sobriety tests, per Georgia law enforcement and submitted to a breathalyzer.
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Yager was charged with DUI, hit-and-run and failure to stop at a stop sign. He posted a $2,117 bond and issued a statement indicating he was “cooperating fully” with law enforcement.
According to a statement from Yager’s office, the lawmaker pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of DUI less safe.
According to Yager’s statement Monday, Georgia authorities have dropped all other charges, including hit-and-run, duty of driver to stop at or return to the scene of an accident, and failure to yield.
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Yager has already completed 40 hours of community service and DUI school as part of the agreement, according to his office.
Today, I entered into a plea of no contest to the misdemeanor charge of Driving Under the Influence Less Safe. I take full responsibility for my actions on December 3rd. Drinking and driving is a very serious matter. It will never happen again.
Throughout both my personal and professional life, I have sought to act with integrity and accountability. On December 3, 2024, I failed to live up to those principles and let my family, friends, and constituents down. I sincerely regret my actions and apologize.
I asked God to forgive me. And He has. I am grateful His grace knows no bounds. I am also humbled by the kindness, grace and forgiveness I have received from family, constituents, colleagues and friends. I will work every day to continue to be worthy of their trust by remaining committed to serving my constituents and the state of Tennessee to the best of my abilities, as well as focus on how God can best use me to accomplish His will.”
State Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston)
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