A Jamestown woman faces Leandra's Law charges after driving with a blood alcohol content nearly four times the legal limit, with an 8-year-old child in her car.
Shawna L. Dejesus, 33, of Jamestown was charged with felony DWI, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and failure to pay a fine at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday.
According to a police report, officers of the 1st Platoon witnessed Dejesus operating a vehicle on Newland Avenue with a confirmed failure to pay warrant issued out of Jamestown City Court.
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After stopping the vehicle and speaking to the operator, officers detected signs of intoxication. Dejesus was taken into custody for DWI as well as the outstanding Jamestown City Court warrant.
The DWI was upgraded to a felony DWI under Leandra's Law. Leandra's Law, also known as the Child Passenger Protection Act, is a New York state law that makes it an automatic felony on the first offense to drive drunk with a person age 15 or younger inside the vehicle. The law was passed unanimously in 2009 after Leandra Rosado, an 11-year-old girl, was killed by a drunk driver who also injured six other children during the accident.
Upon bringing Dejesus into the city holding facility, she was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and issued a charge for that as well. She is currently being held pending arraignment on the charges.