Child Neglect Charges Filed Against Woman Accused Of Smoking Crack

STAFFORD, VA — A 45-year-old South Carolina woman was arrested Friday for driving under the influence, according to Stafford County Sheriff's Office. A child was in the vehicle with the woman, who investigators say had smoked crack just 20 minutes before she was stopped by officers.

SCSO Sgt. A.T. Leckemby responded around 12:48 a.m. after receiving information that Jennifer Perseghin was “not doing well” and possibly driving under the influence, according to authorities. The person who called in the report said that Pereseghin was also randomly yelling at people on Bradburn Place, even though no one else was nearby.

Leckemby found Perseghin and the vehicle at Genesis Logistics, located at 705 Bradburn Place. After talking to Perseghin, deputies observed signs of intoxication. They also noticed a juvenile family member was in the vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.

Ignoring the deputies' commands to stop, Perseghin re-entered the vehicle. When they tried to detain her, she resisted, authorities said. Leckemby reached into the vehicle and pulled the keys out of the ignition, and deputies were eventually able to remove the suspect from the vehicle and take her into custody.

Officers said Pereseghin had smoked crack about 20 minutes before deputies arrived. A search of the vehicle turned up a pipe containing a suspected controlled substance, authorities say.

Sheriff's deputies charged Perseghin with driving under the influence, felony child neglect, possession of controlled substances, and obstruction of justice. She was then held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. The juvenile was turned over to a responsible adult, according to the sheriff's office.