St. Charles Parish man arrested for DWI and Child Endangerment
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: April 26, 2012
A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agent arrested a St. Charles Parish man on April 23 for allegedly driving while intoxicated (DWI) on April 23.
LDWF Agent Jared Taylor arrested Darren McGovern, 25, of Norco, after observing him operating his vehicle erratically on Airline Hwy. while crossing the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Agent Taylor also watched McGovern toss a white plastic grocery bag out his window.
McGovern allegedly failed his field sobriety test and his blood alcohol content registered over the legal limit of .08. McGovern was then booked into the St. Charles Parish Correctional Facility for second offense DWI and intentional littering. He was also cited for child endangerment, since he had his 8-year-old daughter in the vehicle.
A second offense DWI brings a fine between $750 and $1,000 and 30 days to six months in jail. Intentional littering carries a $250 fine and eight hours of community service in a litter abatement work program.
Because McGovern had an 8-year-old in the vehicle with him at the time of his DWI, he faces the additional charge of violating the Child Endangerment Law. This law states that if a child 12 years of age or younger was a passenger in the vehicle, aircraft, vessel or other means of motorized conveyance at the time when the defendant was arrested, the minimum mandatory sentence provided for each offense cannot be suspended.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov