Judge rejects 'sleep driving' defense, convicts nun of DUI

WASHINGTON TWP, New Jersey -- A judge in New Jersey convicted a Philadelphia nun of DUI, rejecting her 'sleep driving' defense.

Sister Kimberly Miller was arrested after she crashed in to a building in Turnersville, Gloucester County last year.

The nun claims she was not drunk, but instead had taken the sleep drug Ambien and was asleep while behind the wheel.

Witnesses told police Miller was driving erratically and pulled into the parking lot of a Meineke auto shop and backed into the front door while turning around, shattering the glass.

She was administered a breath test that measured her blood alcohol at .16, which is twice the legal limit.

Those results were thrown out by the judge last week because the officer did not directly observe the nun for 20 minutes before administering the test as required.

One of the officers on the scene says Miller told him she had two glasses of wine at a book signing event earlier that night. An open but corked half full bottle of wine was found behind the driver's seat.

Sister Miller is a teacher at Little Flower High School in Hunting Park.