Man Charged With Felony DWI Had .11 BAC, 3 Prior Convictions: Sheriff

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A Riverhead man charged with felony driving while intoxicated Friday had three prior DWI convictions, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon said.

Deputies working at a DWI checkpoint in Southampton Town saw Juan Ochoa, 34, enter the checkpoint and demonstrate clues, while performing standardized field sobriety tests, indicating that he was intoxicated, Toulon said.

He was arrested and transported to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office headquarters where he submitted to a chemical breath test resulting in a .11 blood alcohol content, Toulon said.

Ochoa had three previous DWI convictions in 2011, 2020, and 2022; he was also driving without an ignition interlock device physically installed or present in the vehicle, as per the restriction set forth on his driver’s license, the sheriff said.

He was arrested and charged with felony DWI due to his three prior DWI convictions, circumventing a court ordered interlock device, driving with a suspended license, and other vehicle and traffic law violations, Toulon said.

He was one of seven arrested over the holiday weekend countywide and charged with DWI by the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office.

"The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office DWI enforcement team is patrolling Suffolk’s roadways looking for impaired drivers. These impaired individuals were a danger to themselves and others, and I thank my deputies for removing them from the driver’s seat before they caused a holiday tragedy, Toulon said. "Deputies will continue to be on the lookout for impaired drivers through the New Year’s Eve weekend, so plan ahead before you spend the New Year in the Suffolk County jail."