Driver Charged With 2 Felony Counts After DWI Arrest With 2 Kids In Car

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — An early Sunday morning traffic stop had big consequences for a Hudson Valley driver, according to police.

At 1:06 a.m., New York State Police in Wappinger stopped a vehicle traveling west on Mill Street, in the City of Poughkeepsie.

During the stop, the driver, identified as 34-year-old Mauro E. Gonzalez Cante, of Poughkeepsie, showed signs of intoxication, according to troopers. Standardized field sobriety tests were administered, and police say two children, ages 10 and 13, were passengers in the vehicle.

Gonzalez Cante was arrested and taken to SP Wappinger for processing, where he submitted to a chemical breath test that yielded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.11 percent, according to NYSP. The children were released to a sober third party.

Gonzalez Cante was charged with two felony counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child passenger (Leandra's Law), driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with 0.08 percent or more alcohol in the blood, first offense.

Gonzalez Cante was issued traffic tickets returnable to the City of Poughkeepsie Court on Aug. 31.