The off-duty Kern County sheriff’s deputy suspected of driving under the influence that resulted in a crash with her children in the car changed her plea Tuesday from innocent to no contest to one charge of driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of more than .08. % and one count of child endangerment.
In response, prosecutors dismissed three charges of child endangerment and one charge of driving under the influence against 32-year-old Ana Christina Alvarez.
Alvarez did not appear in Kern County Superior Court on Tuesday, but her attorney Gabriel Godinez appeared on her behalf. Judge Chad Louie sentenced Alvarez to four years of probation; 12 days in jail, which may be served through work release; eight hours of community service; 26 weeks of parenting classes; 10 Alcohol Anonymous Meetings and DUI School.
According to the Bakersfield Police Department report filed in court, Alvarez and a BPD vehicle crashed on Oct. 21, 2023, at Stockdale Highway and Village Lane. Alvarez told officers she was coming home from a birthday party with her children in the car at the time of the crash. .
The children were 7, 6, 4 and 3 years old at the time of the accident. Three of the children suffered minor injuries, according to the report. The children were picked up by a family member after the crash, the report said.
Alvarez told officers she was distracted while driving at the time of the crash, according to the BPD report. It said BPD officers noticed Alvarez had red, watery eyes and administered a field sobriety test.
According to the report, the deputy was taken to a hospital to obtain a blood sample to check her blood alcohol level. The BPS report did not include the results of the blood test. During the plea, Godinez acknowledged that Alvarez had a high blood alcohol content of more than 0.15%.
“Now it’s time for her to keep moving forward,” Godinez told The Californian after the hearing.
