Being arrested and accused of driving under the influence can have a profound impact on your personal reputation. Depending on the policies where you work, you could even face termination. This is especially true if the allegations are a direct violation against your employer.

A 42-year-old St. Louis man is facing several charges after being accused of not only driving while intoxicated, but also of stealing a car and at least $10,500 from the dealership where he worked. He was charged this week in Madison County Circuit Court with theft over $10,000, driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal transportation of alcohol and other counts.

A McDonough County sheriff's deputy said he spotted the man driving erratically in a gray Nissan Maxima along Highway 36 on Tuesday afternoon. The arrest report said he saw alcohol inside the car and that the driver was "exhibiting signs of impairment." After a check of the car's license plate revealed the car had been stolen from a Wood River, Illinois, car dealership, the deputy arrested the man.

Wood River's deputy police chief said the investigation into the missing money began when the dealership was performing an audit. As a result of the money and car theft allegations, the dealership has fired the man, who worked as its sub-prime finance manager. The police chief said even though the man may have embezzled between $15,000 and $20,000, it's unlikely the charges against him will be enhanced.

Even if the man is found not guilty of the charges against him, it's unlikely he'll be able to regain the trust of his now-former employer. And a conviction and sentence for the charges against him could make it very difficult for him to find a professional job in his chosen career after he completes his sentence. If you're accused of driving under the influence or a related crime that threatens your employment, you may benefit from contacting an attorney as soon as possible. Doing so may lessen the damage to your career and your reputation.

Source: TheTelegraph.com, "Man jailed in theft from dealership," Cynthia M. Ellis, Feb. 10, 2012