State Sen. Ben Hueso charged with misdemeanor drunk driving

State Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) faces two misdemeanor charges after his arrest last month on suspicion of drunk driving, the Sacramento district attorney’s office said Monday.

Hueso was charged with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and one count of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more, said Shelly Orio, media officer for the district attorney’s office. Both counts are misdemeanors.

The senator was stopped by California Highway Patrol officers at 2:44 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, after driving the wrong way down a one-way street in downtown Sacramento, according authorities. The CHP officers “observed objective signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication,” said CHP officer Julie Powell.

He was released later that day and issued a statement apologizing for his actions.

“I accept complete personal responsibility for my actions and any punishments that ultimately come my way as a result of this incident,” he said at the time. “I will also engage in immediate, corrective actions to ensure this kind of personal conduct is never repeated.”

Hueso’s office did not immediately respond Monday to requests for comment on the charges.

He is set to be arraigned on Sept. 18.

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