Any DUI charge is serious. Those who end up being arrested for a DUI with a child under 14 in the car may face additional charges of child endangerment in California. The charge need not be applied separately. It can be charged as a DUI sentence “enhancement” under certain circumstances, although authorities can choose to make it a separate charge. Under certain circumstances, the child endangerment charge, which is usually a misdemeanor in DUI cases, can be charged as a felony. The felony charge carries a penalty of 2 to 6 years in prison, which can be in addition to the jail time for the DUI charge. Pooch Hall, star of “The Game,” is facing both DUI and felony child endangerment charges, as Essence reports.
Marion “Pooch” Hall has been formally charged by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office with both DUI and felony child endangerment. If convicted, Hall could be facing up to six years in prison.
The charges stem from an incident earlier this month in which Hall crashed into a parked car. At the time of the accident, Hall’s two-year-old child was in the vehicle with him.
According to a witness, they saw Hall’s car collide with a parked vehicle on October 3rd in Burbank, California. The witness further informed authorities that they had seen Hall behind the wheel. They also described that Hall’s child was not in a car safety seat at the time of the accident.
The witness stated that the child was in Hall’s lap and Hall was allowing the child to steer the vehicle. No one was hurt, but the child is now in the custody of Hall’s wife.
Authorities issued field sobriety tests, which Hall allegedly failed. Hall also allegedly blew nearly three times the legal limit on a breathalyzer test.
Hall was released after posting $100,000 bond and was booked on charges of DUI and child endangerment.
