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State Rep. Markosek charged with DUI | TribLIVE.com
Plum/Oakmont

State Rep. Markosek charged with DUI

Dillon Carr
Dillon Carr
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Democratic candidate Brandon Markosek speaks at a candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters on Wednesday, Oct.24, 2018.

A state representative elected in 2018 was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving in Cumberland County in September, according to court records.

Brandon J. Markosek, 26, of Monroeville represents the 25th State House District. He faces a misdemeanor DUI charge, along with summary offense for speeding, a court docket shows.

Marosek’s attorney said he believes blood test results will exonerate his client.

Markosek was arrested just after 8 p.m. on Sept. 18 by an East Pennsboro police officer following a traffic stop, according to a criminal complaint. The township is just west of Harrisburg in Cumberland County.

Police initially pulled him over on suspicion of speeding.

“While talking with the operator … I noticed a slight odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and glassy eyes,” the officer wrote in the complaint. Markosek then allegedly told the officer he had two drinks at a tavern nearby, police said.

At that point, the officer had the legislator perform field sobriety tests and Markosek complied, the complaint said. The arresting officer determined Markosek “incapable of safe driving” and arrested him, according to the complaint.

Marosek later agreed to a blood test at a hospital. The test found his blood alcohol content to be 0.058%, according to the complaint. The legal limit is 0.08%.

Markosek was not immediately available to comment. His attorney Craig E. Kauzlarich emailed a statement that read:

“We expect the DUI charge against Rep. Markosek will be dismissed. Per the police report, his blood alcohol was .058% which is well below the legal limit.”

He was charged Oct. 21, court records show. A preliminary hearing is set before Magisterial District Judge Michael Sanderson on Dec. 20.

The Democratic legislator’s district includes East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Monroeville, North Versailles Township, Pitcairn, Wall, Wilmerding and a large part of Plum.

When elected in 2018, he replaced his father, Joe Markosek, who represented the same suburban district for 35 years.

Markosek earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Duquesne University and a master’s in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed summer internships at the state capitol and worked for nearly two years as a community outreach representative for state Sen. James Brewster, D-McKeesport.

Dillon Carr is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Dillon at 412-871-2325, [email protected] or via Twitter .

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