Sioux Center, Iowa — A Sheldon man has been arrested on felony child endangerment charges after a traffic stop in Sioux Center.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Sioux County Clerk of Court’s Office by the Sioux Center Police Department, 36-year-old Cesar Garcia-Hernandez of Sheldon is accused of driving while intoxicated with a juvenile in the vehicle. He was arrested on Sunday.
In his statement, the officer says Garcia-Hernandez was driving an SUV that crossed over the centerline approximately three times and drove on the fog line approximately twice. The officer says Garcia-Hernandez exhibited a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person, had bloodshot and watery eyes, and showed signs of impaired balance. The officer says Garcia-Hernandez’s juvenile son was present in the back seat of the vehicle, and an open container of alcohol was located inside the vehicle in close proximity to the juvenile.
Garcia-Hernandez was charged with neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, a class C felony. If convicted, Garcia-Hernandez could face up to ten years in prison. He also faces misdemeanor charges of operating while intoxicated and open container.
He faces a preliminary hearing on the charges on May 6th.
At last report, he remained in the Sioux County Jail in Orange City.
