DA Reduces DUI Charges Against Local Politico
September 24 – Santa Barbara
The specter of political influence has cast a shadow over today’s filing of DUI charges against former Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Iya Falcone, which included the elimination of hit-and-run circumstances recorded in her initial arrest report.
Iya Falcone was charged with DUI, but the hit and run charges were dropped
Falcone, 57, was arrested on September 19th following a collision between her car and another vehicle parked and at rest in a Mesa area parking lot. The accident occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m., and was immediately reported to Santa Barbara Police Department Dispatch by witnesses at the scene. Responding SBPD patrol officers observed Falcone walking away from the accident, detained her, and at that time determined that she was under the influence and intended to remove herself from the scene without reporting the event as required by law.
Falcone was then transported in an SBPD black-and-white to downtown Santa Barbara Headquarters, where, two hours later, she was administered a breathalyzer test upon which she scored a blood-alcohol level of .24, three times over the legal limit.
At her September 24th Superior Court appearance, Deputy District Attorney Gary Gemberling remarked uncharacteristically to the media that although police had charged Falcone with hit-and-run, it was his opinion “that the hit-and-run could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
While the DUI charge alone could result in a jail sentence of 15 days and three years of probation as well as fines and license suspension, immediate response among local observers and media pundits to the reduced charges indicates concern for the potential of political influence upon the office of the District Attorney.
Falcone, who held two terms on the Santa Barbara City Council, returns to Santa Barbara Superior Court on October 25th for her formal arraignment.
Read more:
keyt: DA Files Charges Against Iya Falcone
Noozhawk: DA’s Office Files Charges against Iya Falcone
CrimeVoice: Politico Busted on DUI
