NORWICH – Witness testimony was heard Thursday during a pre-trial hearing for the case of a contested felony driving while intoxicated charge.

Edgar L. Pierce, 55, of Sherburne, has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated (for allegedly having a blood alcohol content level of .19 percent at the time of the incident) and felony driving while intoxicated (a felony due to a previous DWI conviction), both are class E felonies. The charges stem from a traffic stop which occurred February 16, 2013 in the Village of Sherburne. During the pre-trial court hearing yesterday defense attorney Scott Clippinger and prosecutor Joseph McBride contested whether or not the charges arose from a lawful traffic stop.

Sherburne police officer Ryan M. Legacy, a two-year veteran of the force, was called to the stand and sworn in. Presiding Judge Martin E. Smith also reviewed a video recording from the officer’s dash cam which captured the traffic stop.