Bonne Terre legislator, wife face charges in New Year's Day accident

A Missouri lawmaker was charged with a felony Thursday for allegedly driving away after hitting a man with his pickup truck. Meanwhile, the lawmaker's wife is accused of lying to police by saying she was the driver.

Authorities say a video surveillance camera at a high school captured state Rep. Brad Robinson, D-Bonne Terre, and his wife, Tara, switching seats in the truck moments after the New Year's morning accident.

A special prosecutor appointed in the case, Jack Banas of St. Charles County, filed a charge of leaving the scene of an accident against Brad Robinson, 44. Tara Robinson, 37, was charged with misdemeanor making a false declaration.

Rep. Robinson faces up to four years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines if convicted of the felony.

Banas said he was unsure why the couple drove away. "Bottom line, if they had stayed there, it wouldn't be as bad as it is now," he said.

Calls and e-mails to Robinson's home and office on Thursday were not returned.

Emergency crews were called at 1:20 a.m. New Year's Day and told a man was lying on the roadway in Bonne Terre. The victim, 46-year-old Donald Marler of Desloge, was taken to a hospital in St. Louis.

In a probable-cause statement, Bonne Terre police Sgt. William Stegall said officers approached two women at the scene to ask if they saw what happened. Stegall said one of the women, Tara Robinson, said they saw the man in the ditch and tried to help.

A short time later, officers were called to the Robinsons' home. The couple told police Tara Robinson was driving their truck and struck something, then went back to the site and found Marler in the ditch.

But Stegall said police later learned that a video surveillance camera at North County High School recorded the Robinson pickup pulling into the parking lot shortly after Marler was struck. The video shows Brad Robinson getting out from the driver's side and switching positions with his wife, the probable-cause statement said.

The couple was interviewed again on Jan. 18 and both admitted that Brad Robinson was the driver, the probable-cause statement said.

Stegall said Marler is expected to make a full recovery and is now home from the hospital. A phone message left at his home was not returned.

Robinson was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2004.