Drunk-driving charges filed against top L.A. budget official
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley filed drunk-driving charges Monday against City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana, the top budget adviser at Los Angeles City Hall.
Santana, 40, was arrested March 26 in Covina as he drove a city-owned car home from a charity roast honoring Cooley. He had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15%, according a statement from Cooley’s office.
Santana, who lives in Claremont, faces one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood-alcohol level above 0.08%, the legal limit.
Arraignment is scheduled for May 25.
Santana did not comment on the charges after being contacted by The Times.
In the days following the arrest, Santana turned in his city car and took a leave from his job so that he could enter an alcohol treatment center. He returned to work April 15.
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