Mom Pleads Guilty Of Abuse After DUI Cop Chase With Kids In Tow

GARDEN GROVE, CA — On Wednesday, a 25-year-old woman admitted she drove drunk with her two young children in the back seat, then took them on a wild ride with Garden Grove police following. Now, she was placed on four years of formal probation, court records obtained Wednesday show.

Catherine Ileana Gonzalez was ordered to participate in a child abuser's treatment program, a first-offender alcohol program and to attend two self-help meetings a week. Gonzalez was also sentenced Tuesday to 109 days in jail, but was released upon sentencing because she had credit for that time served awaiting trial.

Gonzalez pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse and endangerment, both felonies, as well as three counts of hit-and-run with property damage and driving under the influence of alcohol, all misdemeanors. Under the plea deal, misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and driving without a valid driver's license were dismissed.

Police attempted to pull her over at Magnolia Street and Trask Avenue on Oct. 25, but she refused to stop, said Garden Grove police Lt. Carl Whitney.

The chase led to Beach Boulevard at the eastbound Garden Grove (22) Freeway onramp, where her car collided with another vehicle, he said. At that point, her 6-year-old son exited the car and she briefly did, as well, Whitney said.

"The child was seen running after his mother by a citizen who picked up the child and followed the woman," who had gotten back into her car and kept driving with her 3-year-old child still in the vehicle, he said.

The pursuit ended at Garden Grove Boulevard about a mile away, where she crashed her vehicle into an electrical box, Whitney said.

The children were released to the custody of their father, he said.

City News Service, Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.

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