LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
Los Angeles' City Adminstrative Officer Miguel Santana today plead "no contest" to misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol, a charge stemming from March when he was involved in heavy budget discussions with City Council.
Santana today was immediately sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay $1,737 in fines and penalty assessments, according to Deputy District Attorney Casey Jarvis. He was also ordered to enroll in a six-month drinking-driver program and to view victims of alcohol-related accidents in a hospital and morgue program. A second count, driving while having a .08% or higher blood alcohol, was dismissed under terms of a negotiated plea agreement.
When Santana was caught on March 26th, he was driving a city-issued car. The official, who is paid around $220,000 a year, immediately took a hiatus and has since returned to the job, guiding the City Council through its $6.7 billion budget . Before getting pulled over for speeding, Santana was attending a charity event that roasted District Attorney Steve Cooley, whose office took him to court today.