A former Bronx assistant district attorney was acquitted yesterday of driving while impaired.
It took a Manhattan jury only 15 minutes to clear Rafael Urena, 27, said his lawyer, Steven Epstein.
Urena had blown a .081 in a breath test — just over the limit for misdemeanor impairment — at an East 61st Street checkpoint in January 2012, and had been asked to resign from his prosecutor post as a result.
But Urena’s lawyer argued successfully to jurors that his client’s blood-alcohol result was within a margin of error for the device used. Urena had also shown no sign of impairment while driving, the lawyer argued.
After the verdict, Urena said he felt vindicated — and ready to return to work.
“I felt like justice was served,” he said. “If I get an offer to go back, I will go back. I love that job.”
The Bronx DA’s Office declined to comment.