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An Ulster County jury has convicted Mark Brown, a 56-year-old man from Poughkeepsie, for driving drunk without a license. The conviction follows a three-day trial in Kingston, New York, where Brown faced charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and circumventing a court-ordered ignition interlock device. Brown was arrested in May 2023 by a New York State trooper after committing multiple traffic violations on Route 9W in Marlborough. The trooper detected the smell of alcohol and marijuana and noted Brown's glassy eyes. Brown failed all field sobriety tests and refused chemical testing at the scene. At the time of his arrest, Brown was on probation for previous drunk driving convictions and was required to use an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he drove. This device prevents a vehicle from starting unless the driver passes a breath alcohol test. Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji used the case to remind the public about the dangers of impaired driving, especially during the holiday season. "No amount of regret, remorse, or condolences can undo the harm we all know to come from drunk driving incidents," Nneji said to the Daily Voice, urging residents to prioritize safety. Brown is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2025.