Newly elected San Juan Bautista City Councilman George Dias,
Jr., who takes his seat in January, is facing up to six months in
jail or a fine of up to $1,000 for driving under the influence with
a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit, according
to law enforcement officials.
San Juan Bautista – Newly elected San Juan Bautista City Councilman George Dias, Jr., who takes his seat in January, is facing up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $1,000 for driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit, according to law enforcement officials.
Dias will be arraigned Dec. 7 on charges stemming from his arrest last spring for a misdemeanor DUI, said District Attorney John Sarsfield. Police toxicology tests showed Dias had a blood alcohol level of .22 after he was arrested at 11:15pm on May 1 on Franklin Street in San Juan Bautista. The legal limit is below .08.
This is Dias’ first drunk driving arrest, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Dias said Thursday that he had not been informed of the arraignment date and that talking about the arrest before then wasn’t in his best interest.
“I don’t want to say anything at this point – I don’t know if it will hurt me or help me. I just don’t think I should,” he said. “I hope you don’t screw my case up – this thing is not even over.”
Dias was elected to the council Nov. 2, receiving 36.1 percent of the vote.
San Juan Bautista City Manager Larry Cain said Dias told him about the arrest shortly after it occurred. He said he isn’t sure if it will affect Dias’ status as a council member, but conceded there would definitely be an effect if he was put in jail.
“That’s one of those questions that will be answered when it happens,” Cain said.
Cain doesn’t believe the arrest casts a negative light on the council because people’s private lives should stay that way, he said.
A San Benito County Sheriff’s deputy pulled Dias over in May after a woman in the Windmill parking lot on The Alameda informed the deputy a man who appeared to be very intoxicated had just driven away, Sarsfield said.
Deputy David Hackman followed the truck for a short time and found that the driver was traveling between 35 and 40 mph in a 25 mph zone, and that the truck’s license plate light was out, Sarsfield said.
When Hackman pulled Dias over, Dias immediately got out of the truck and began walking unsteadily toward the deputy and sticking his hands in his pants pockets, Sarsfield said.
Hackman wrote in his police report that when he handcuffed Dias he could smell alcohol on his breath, Sarsfield said.
Hackman contacted the CHP, which often takes DUI calls so sheriff’s deputies can get back to patrolling the city, said CHP spokesman Brad Voyles.
Sarsfield said when the CHP officer arrived he performed a field sobriety test on Dias, who said he’d just left the Pizza Factory and had had a Bud Light beer at home after work.
When the officer asked Dias how many beers he’d had, he said, “I don’t know, I can’t guess,” Sarsfield said.
Dias refused a breath test but had his blood drawn later that night, Voyles said. His blood alcohol content was .22, he said.
City Councilman Dan Reed said he had not heard about the arrest and questioned whether it would have affected the outcome of the November election if it had been made more public.
“People tend to look at things completely different. But I’m sure since George is a long-time resident of San Juan many people knew what had transpired,” he said. “It’s maybe just a case of bad judgment. I can’t give you a legitimate argument.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com.
