A Riverbank city councilman has pleaded not guilty to a DUI crash that injured his son, attempting to flee while his son remained, and other DUI-related charges, as reported by The Modesto Bee.
Councilman Jesse James White, 23, alongside his defense attorney, Mary Lynn Belsher, entered his not guilty plea in the Stanislaus County courtroom on March 21. The pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 18 and will be heard before the Stanislaus County Superior Court.
White, Belsher and Deputy District Attorney Anthony Colacito refused to answer questions from the press as they exited the courthouse. To a query as to whether he would resign, White would only say, “It's none of your business” while Belsher added, “All you do is trash my client; that's what you do best.”
In the two weeks prior to entering his plea, White was believed to be in a treatment center for alcoholism, however, that was found to be false when city officials had confirmed reports that he was seen in both Riverbank and Oakdale.
White attended his last city council meeting on February 13 and it is unknown if he is planning to resign his position.
Charges against White include felonies for: driving under the influence, causing an injury and making an unsafe turn, hit-and-run driving with an injury, permitting a child to suffer under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death. His misdemeanor charges include: hit-and-run driving and resisting a police officer by means of threats and violence.
Allegedly the councilman identified himself by name to the arresting officers and told them they would be sorry for their actions.
According to the Oakdale police department, at approximately 1 a.m. on February 20, White crashed his Corvette into a parked car on F Street in Oakdale. He attempted to flee the area, per witnesses at the scene, but bystanders got a hold of him and held him until officers arrived.
Prosecutors contend that White’s blood alcohol content level was three times the legal limit for driving – it was registered at 0.24 percent.
White’s four-year-old son, left by his father in the vehicle, suffered a bloody nose during the accident.
White’s grandfather, now 73, served the same city council for almost 20 years. White was 19 when he himself was elected into the council in November 2008.
In July 2009 it was determined during a county civil grand jury report that, among other issues, he was on probation for misdemeanor “wet and reckless” driving at the time of his election.
In May 2010, White was arrested on drug possession. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in the incident. He completed a required 20-hour drug and alcohol education class last fall.
White has been the subject of two failed recall attempts.
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