Imbrecht Sentenced to 60 Days in Jail for Probation Violation

Former state energy commissioner Charles Imbrecht was sentenced Friday to 60 days in Ventura County Jail for violating the terms of his probation on a drunk-driving charge.

Prosecutors had asked a judge to impose twice the amount of jail time, arguing that Imbrecht’s multiple probation violations warrant a stiff sentence.

“His performance on probation has been pretty poor,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Lief. “We were asking for 120 days.”

But attorney William Tomasi said his client has been enrolled in an alcohol treatment facility for several months and asked the judge to reward that by imposing no jail time.

Judge Steven Hintz denied the request, but told Tomasi that his client did not need to turn himself into authorities until Feb. 23, after he completes the treatment program.

Hintz said Imbrecht can be screened for the county’s work- furlough program, which means he can apply to serve the jail time by working during the day and being incarcerated at night.

Imbrecht, 48, did not appear in court Friday but was represented by his lawyer. He enrolled in a residential treatment program in early September after being arrested for violating his probation.

The arrest came after probation officers paid a surprise visit to the Ventura home of Imbrecht’s mother over the Labor Day weekend and smelled alcohol on his breath.

Among other things, the terms of Imbrecht’s probation do not allow him to drink alcoholic beverages. Imbrecht was arrested Dec. 7, 1996, after Ventura County sheriff’s deputies observed his car weaving on a city street and smelled alcohol on his breath. They also found marijuana in his pocket.

A blood sample taken at a local hospital showed Imbrecht’s alcohol level to be .33--more than four times the legal limit for driving, authorities said.

Imbrecht resigned as chairman of the California Energy Commission a month later, after nearly 14 years in the position. At the same time, Ventura County prosecutors filed misdemeanor charges against the lawyer for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while having a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher and for possessing marijuana in a car.

Imbrecht pleaded guilty to the charges and served a month in jail. He was also placed on probation.

He violated those terms by being caught purchasing alcohol in April 1997 and again in September for having alcohol on his breath. Before he took his post as head of the state’s Energy Commission, Imbrecht served as a member of the state Assembly from 1976 to 1982, representing a portion of Ventura County.