ASHVILLE — Two individuals taking part in a driving while intoxicated victim impact panel are facing charges after arriving to the Jan. 11 meeting in an illegal fashion.

Deputies reported Tuesday they were assisting with the event at the Board of Cooperative Educational Services. The program was started in early 2000, and is a collaboration of Stop DWI, the Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Probation Office.

Defendants who were charged with driving while intoxicated or being impaired by drugs care mandated by the courts to attend a victim impact panel meeting. Part of meetings consist of defendant’s listening to panelists who have lost a loved one to the senseless act of driving while intoxicated.

During the pre-registration screening process, deputies observed one of the defendants identified as Deo James Taylor, 66, of Westfield, arriving to the meeting operating a 2007 Cadillac. While registering, deputies determined the Taylor drove to the meeting intoxicated. He was charged and after processing, it was determined the his blood alcohol content was 0.10 %, which is over the legal limit of 0.08%. He was released and is to be back in the town of North Harmony Court at a later date.

On the same evening, another attendee arrived at the same meeting driving a 2006 Ford pickup. He was later identified as Richard E Preston, 34, of Jamestown. At the time he denied operating the vehicle, he was seen driving into the parking lot by a deputy. It was later determined that Preston had a revoked license and was driving a motor vehicle without a court ordered interlock device. He was issued traffic citations and later released to be back in the town of North Harmony Court later.