Oral Roberts’ son, a former university president, accused of DUI

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Richard Roberts, former president of Tulsa’s Oral Roberts University and son of the school’s namesake Pentecostal televangelist, was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of DUI and speeding, officials told The Times.

Shortly after midnight Tuesday, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper caught Roberts driving a black 2006 Mercedes at 93 mph in a 65 mph zone on a highway west of U.S. 169, according to an arrest report officials provided to The Times that was also referred to by the Tulsa World.

After stopping Roberts, 63, the trooper noted that he smelled strongly of alcohol, according to the report.
Roberts failed two coordination tests and his blood-alcohol level was tested at .11%, well above the legal limit of .08%, according to the arrest report.

Roberts was booked into the Tulsa jail and released a few hours later on $1,100 bail, officials told The Times.

Roberts resigned as president of the Tulsa-based university, known for its towering sculpture of praying hands, in 2007 after he and his family were accused of abusing university and ministry resources. Faculty and students at the university have been required to sign an honor code promising not to drink alcohol.

He received the honorary title of president emeritus of the university in 2008.

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-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske