March 19, 2024

Newton woman charged for allegedly drunk driving with kids

A Newton woman is facing child endangerment charges after she was accused of driving under the influence Sunday with two children in the vehicle.

Newton police were called to a residence on North 11th Avenue in reference to a fight in progress. The victim of the fight told dispatch he was following Jessica R. Martinez, 34, of Newton, who left the residence at 12:26 a.m. in a silver Mercury Sable in the 2300 block of North Fourth Avenue East.

Police pulled Martinez over in the 300 block of East 31st Street North. According to a police report, Martinez smelled of alcohol and after conducting an OWI investigation, Martinez was found to be operating while under the influence.

Martinez was driving with two children in the rear of the vehicle at the time of the stop.

Martinez faces two counts of child endangerment, operating while under the influence and providing false identification information. Martinez was also issued a citation for driving with a suspended license.

Martinez was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.