Sioux Center, Iowa — A Hull man has been arrested on a felony neglect charge.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Sioux County Clerk of Court’s Office by the Sioux Center Police Department, 43-year-old Rene Gutierrez Lemus of Hull is accused of driving drunk with a 9-year-old in the vehicle. He was arrested on Sunday.
In his statement, the officer says he saw Gutierrez Lemus driving in Sioux Center and noticed driving in the oncoming lane, swerving, speeding, and nearly entering the ditch. He says he pulled Gutierrez Lemus over and Gutierrez Lemus exited the vehicle and allegedly had to be told several times to re-enter the vehicle. He also allegedly told his 9-year-old to hide his half-consumed can of beer under her blanket. The officer says Gutierrez Lemus provided a breath sample that registered 0.184 percent blood alcohol, over two times the legal limit of 0.08.
Gutierrez Lemus was charged with neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, a class C felony. If convicted, Gutierrez Lemus could face up to ten years in prison. He’s also charged with a misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated.
He faces a preliminary hearing on August 12th.
At last report, he remained in the Sioux County Jail in Orange City in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
