Longtime City Councilman Charlie Morales has been arrested for
driving under the influence of alcohol.
GILROY – Longtime City Councilman Charlie Morales has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Morales was stopped at about 7:30 p.m. June 29 by the California Highway Patrol while traveling north on Highway 25 south of the San Benito and Santa Clara counties’ line. The officer pulled Morales over after he repeatedly hit his brakes and crossed over the white edge line of the road by as much as a foot and a half, CHP spokesman Terry Mayes said.
The 56-year-old councilman subsequently failed a roadside sobriety test and was booked into San Benito County jail where he submitted to a blood test. The CHP said charges will be filed by the San Benito County district attorney this week. Results from the blood test will not be available for approximately another month, the CHP said.
Morales, who declined to comment in much detail, said he would not resign from City Council over the incident. His term expires in November 2005.
“This is my personal cross to bear and I ask for forgiveness …,” Morales said in a brief interview. “I have a serious problem that I have to face. I’ll continue meeting my obligations (to City Council), I’m strong enough.”
The June 29 arrest comes less than two months before Morales’ three-year DUI probation was set to expire, court records show. The probation violation opens the door to fines up to $1,000, a one-year jail sentence and an 18-month driver’s license suspension, court documents indicate.
Deputy District Attorney Stephen Wagner said Morales could face between 25 days to a year in jail depending on the circumstances of the most recent arrest. Morales’ conviction three years ago allows a judge to enhance any future sentencing.
Morales is a juvenile probation officer at the Santa Clara county juvenile probation department’s Harold Holden Ranch for Boys located outside Morgan Hill.
