A Cape Girardeau-area lawyer was arrested in Cape Girardeau on suspicion of driving while intoxicated over the Memorial Day weekend.

Derrick R. Williams, 47, was arrested Saturday morning by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper on charges of driving while intoxicated, speeding and failure to provide valid proof of insurance, according to patrol Lt. Steve Niederkorn.

Williams was stopped around 3:21 a.m. on Highway 74 near Sprigg Street, Niederkorn said. He did not know how fast Williams was driving or what his blood-alcohol content level was.

Following the arrest, Williams spent 12 hours in a jail holding area.

No charges had been filed against Williams as of Thursday night, but the case was transferred to the Missouri attorney general's office.

In a motion for the appointment of a special prosecutor, Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said his office could not pursue the case against Williams because of a conflict of interest.

Williams represents several defendants whose cases are pending against Swingle's office, including Bernard Richards, accused in the Jan. 25 slaying of a 17-year-old boy in Cape Girardeau.

Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis granted the motion for a special prosecutor on Tuesday and appointed the attorney general's office.

The office had not received the case as of Thursday night, spokesman John Fougere said.

According to Swingle's motion, Williams could face disbarment or other sanctions if convicted of the charge.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127