Felony DWI Charge for New Fairfield Woman with Teen Passengers: Putnam Sheriff

PATTERSON, NY — Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a Connecticut woman on an accusation that she drove drunk with kids under 16 in the car. Sandra L. Diehl, 45, of 27 Jeremy Drive in New Fairfield, faces a felony charge in the incident.

At about 1:22 p.m. April 21, the Sheriff’s Office received a telephone call reporting a suspicious vehicle stopped along Old Route 22 in Patterson. Deputy Sheriff Christopher Irwin located the car on the roadside. He found three teenage passengers with Diehl, whom he identified as the driver.

After investigating, the deputy concluded that Diehl was intoxicated, police said.

He charged her with DWI and for a violation of what is commonly referred to as Leandra’s Law, which makes it a felony to commit the offense of DWI while having a passenger under the age of 16 in the vehicle.

After placing Diehl under arrest, deputies turned the passengers over to other responsible adults to provide them with transportation home.

She was booked at the Sheriff’s Office and arraigned before Patterson Town Justice Michael Caruso, who set bail at $2,500. If found guilty of the felony charge, she could face up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.