The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
In the early morning hours of April 6, the mother of a 5-month-old was driving in El Paso and reportedly did not use her turn signal when she changed lanes. Deputies from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office spotted the alleged traffic violation and performed a traffic stop. When they started to talk to her, they believed she showed signs of intoxication, and their suspicions were further raised when they reportedly saw a cup holding liquid that they assumed was alcohol. The driver, who allegedly told the deputies she was alone in the car, reportedly let them know she had just finished her shift at work, and she was going to pick up her 5-month-old baby.
When the woman got out of the car, she was placed in handcuffs without incident. The vehicle was searched, and the deputies reported that when they looked in the back, they discovered her baby, who was sitting in a safety seat that was allegedly incorrectly installed. The mother reportedly said she did not know her infant was in the car.
Child Protective Services and El Paso Fire Medical Services came to the scene, and the baby was taken to the hospital for medical assessment, and the woman was booked into the El Paso County Jail. She is facing preliminary charges of one count of driving while intoxicated with a passenger under the age of 15, and one count of endangering a child. She was initially ordered to be held in lieu of a $23,000 bond but was later released on her own recognizance.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.