Endangerment, DUI charges filed in accident when child fell from truck / LJWorld.com

Archive for Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Endangerment, DUI charges filed in accident when child fell from truck

October 19, 2010

Douglas County prosecutors have filed charges against a 39-year-old Lawrence man in connection with a September incident in which the man’s son fell from the back of a pickup truck.

District attorney Charles Branson has charged Juan Alonzo Velasco with two counts of child endangerment, driving under the influence and failing to secure a load on a truck.

According to a Lawrence police report, a breath test estimated Velasco’s blood-alcohol content was more than 2.5 times the legal limit after the Sept. 25 accident.

The accident occurred at 9:30 a.m. in the 1900 block of East 30th Street after the westbound truck hit a bump in the street and a portable basketball goal fell from the back of the pickup. Velasco’s 12-year-old son, who was trying to secure the basketball goal, also fell to the street.

Velasco stopped the truck, picked up his son and rushed him to the family’s home about two blocks away to call for help. The 12-year-old boy was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital due to abrasions he suffered, and he was eventually transferred to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., where he stayed for more than a week.

Velasco’s 16-year-old son, who also was in the back of the pickup, was not injured, according to police.

Prosecutors filed one charge of aggravated child endangerment, which is a felony, for the 12-year-old boy’s injuries, accusing Velasco of recklessly placing the boy in the dangerous situation. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of child endangerment because the 16-year-old boy was in the back of the truck.

According to the DUI charge, prosecutors allege this would be his third conviction, which is also a felony.

The accident report said the breath test estimated Velasco’s blood-alcohol content was 0.218. The legal limit in Kansas is 0.08.

Branson said because Velasco had prior convictions in another state his office was waiting to get those records before making a decision about the charges.

He was freed after the original arrest, but a summons has been issued for Velasco to appear in Douglas County District Court on Nov. 30.

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cheeseburger 2 years, 8 months ago

Throw the book at him, and place the children in the home of someone who will take care of them appropriately. Apparently he doesn't care enough about his chlidren to look out for their well-being.

Majestic42 2 years, 8 months ago

A good example of the justice system doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Hoo-rah.

windex 2 years, 8 months ago

"place the children in the home of someone who will take care of them appropriately."

Such as yourself?

Pywacket 2 years, 8 months ago

The authorities probably could pick any random poster here and that person would likely do better than the kids' dad was doing. Drunk at 9:00 a.m. and endangering the kids? Great job!

vertigo 2 years, 8 months ago

"Drunk at 9 a.m... "

Not everyone works a day shift. Some people work nights and like to relax after work just as people who work during the day do.

vertigo 2 years, 8 months ago

Don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say any of the above.

I said it is perfectly plausible for people to be drinking at 9 am and have a reasonably good excuse for it. It is no different than people to be drinking at 9 pm.

vertigo 2 years, 8 months ago

Again I didn't say anything to the contrary of that. I said "I said it is perfectly plausible for people to be drinking at 9 am and have a reasonably good excuse for it. It is no different than people to be drinking at 9 pm."

If you have no parental responsibilities and you aren't driving there shouldn't be any negative things said about someone who is drinking at 9 am. Get it now? Or would you like me to draw you a picture? The time of day plays NO importance.

vertigo 2 years, 8 months ago

That's why I originally snipped and quoted Py's comment. Go back and re-read my first comment. It targets the specific point of being drunk at 9 am. Nothing else.

Pywacket 2 years, 8 months ago

Yes--YOU are making a specific point of the time of day, whereas I (and others) merely included that small fact within the larger context of (1) excessive drunkenness, (2) driving that way, and (3) endangering children. You're really getting hung up on the time factor while ignoring the fact that everyone else simply used it as one detail within a context.

And even though I am sympathetic to night workers, since I used to be one and understand that "evening" is a relative term, I have a feeling that the issue is not even applicable with this clown. Probably had been drinking all night.

Pywacket 2 years, 8 months ago

You're still missing the point! I used to work night shift. We got together and had a few drinks after work--morning was our evening. The focus here is not necessarily the time, but the fact of drunkenness (not merely a little over the line, but waaaaaaay drunk) coupled with the driving and total lack of regard for the wellbeing of his children.

Pywacket 2 years, 8 months ago

Sorry if my last 2 posts are difficult to place--the threading seems a little inadequate here.

My 10/21, 1:22 a.m. post was in reply to Vertigo's 10/20, 5:59 a.m. comment and my 10/21, 1:18 a.m. post replied to Vertigo's 10/20, 10:29 a.m. comment.

srj 2 years, 8 months ago

Third DUI and drunk at 9:30 AM, that has to be sign of a serious alcohol addiction.

rando1965 2 years, 8 months ago

no he should have never been driving but i work 3rd shift and if i have a drink with dinner it is around 8a.m. so you say i have a serious alcohol addiction ?

PopcoRN 2 years, 8 months ago

When you put the "drunk at 9:30 am" together with the "3 DUIs" it's definitely suggestive of an alcohol problem.

Pywacket 2 years, 8 months ago

Dumb question. Are you legally drunk after your "drink with dinner"? Drunk as in blood-alcohol level >2 x legal level for driving? Drunk as in tooling along with your children riding precariously in the back of a pickup, with no restraints, trying to keep cargo from bouncing out?

If so, then yes, you possibly have a serious alcohol addicion.

If you're simply having an after-work drink or so, and you have enough self control that you don't get totally sloshed when you know you're going to be driving with your kids, then you are probably a normal social drinker.

That clear things up for you?

heyheymama 2 years, 8 months ago

No drinking and driving AT ALL. Whether you are sloshed or "social drinking", no drinking alcohol and driving.

rando1965 2 years, 8 months ago

yes if i was to get drunk it would be by 9a.m. and no i do not have a problem just saying nothing wrong with being drunk at 9a.m. so if this had of happened at 9 at night it would have been better ?

jafs 2 years, 8 months ago

If you're getting drunk on a regular basis, regardless of the time, you have a problem with alchohol.

rando1965 2 years, 8 months ago

cheeseburger. no i am not sauced.and my point was 3 dui yes a problem but if you go back and read i said being drunk at 9 am is not a problem.if you go to freestste for dinner have 1 or 2 beers before dinner 1 with dinner and possibly 1 after dinner you are leagly drunk and shouldnt drive even after eating a cheeseburger. so how many of you are guilty of this ? thats what i thought.

Majestic42 2 years, 8 months ago

"District attorney Charles Branson..." one vowel away from being the most awesome DA ever.

The_Big_B 2 years, 8 months ago

The being really drunk part ... not so good.

The rest of it ... you'd have to put most all of rural Kansas in jail if it's a crime to have a 16-year-old riding in the back of a pickup.

artichokeheart 2 years, 8 months ago

I think it is against the law for anyone tp ride in the back of a pickup truck. Seat belt laws you know.

budwhysir 2 years, 8 months ago

nah, you wouldnt have to put all of them in jail, only the ones who are breaking the dui laws.... cause thats how the accident happened....

friendlyjhawk 2 years, 8 months ago

Dumb dad.

AreUNorml 2 years, 8 months ago

you're chock full of judgment aren't you. christian?

Brandamn 2 years, 8 months ago

unless you know him i wouldnt pass judgements... everyone makes a mistake

jackbinkelman 2 years, 8 months ago

I'd say the fathers judgements are the ones that should be in question...

bearded_gnome 2 years, 8 months ago

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bearded_gnome 2 years, 8 months ago

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maybeso 2 years, 8 months ago

Oops, your racism is showing.

bearded_gnome 2 years, 8 months ago

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ralphralph 2 years, 8 months ago

You're not allowed to say stuff just because it's true. It must, also, be sensitive.

maybeso 2 years, 8 months ago

Deep, calming breaths...the stress is melting away...only positive, healing thoughts...

ralphralph 2 years, 8 months ago

Are you implying that Juan Alonzo is fiery and passionate, and needs to calm his thoughts? You cannot do that ... unless you're a Phelps.

ralphralph 2 years, 8 months ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

maybeso 2 years, 8 months ago

No, trying to help the gnome get itself under control.

emaw 2 years, 8 months ago

Hey it was 5:00 somewhere!

BostonJayhawk88 2 years, 8 months ago

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vertigo 2 years, 8 months ago

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BostonJayhawk88 2 years, 8 months ago

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Brandamn 2 years, 8 months ago

Has anyone got his side of the story? Just wondering... Anyone know why the child fell out of the truck? Anyone witness the accident? Still wondering...

Brandamn 2 years, 8 months ago

and yea before i get crap on here... i do know the family, I do know what and how it happened, and yea i was hungover that day too.

BostonJayhawk88 2 years, 8 months ago

I'm not here to cast any judgments on anyone... but I will say that the definition of hung over and 2.5 times the legal limit are generally not the same.

Brandamn 2 years, 8 months ago

i said i was, i dont know what his was according to the paper he was 2.5 over i dont know that i wasnt there when they arrested him

catiefan 2 years, 8 months ago

Congrats, Brandamn--with the comments you've posted, don't be surprised if you're subpoenaed by the prosecution to testify in this case. Good luck.

Brandamn 2 years, 8 months ago

they wouldnt get anything out of me... i wasnt there. ive only been told how it happened by more than him. so it would all be hear say...

Brandamn 2 years, 8 months ago

I will stand there and say he does love his kids, he didnt almost kill his child either... the paper over reacts on things and you know it. so keep sitting behind your cheeseburger name and posting on here.... him and his family are a great bunch of people and i stand right beside him in this case