Rubén Pérez to Spend One Day in Jail

Rubén Pérez Pleads Guilty Driving Under the Influence

INDIO — College of the Desert Area 1 Trustee Rubén Pérez pleaded guilty Wednesday in Riverside County Superior Court to two counts of drunken driving. His plea followed a Mandatory Settlement Conference over the objection of the district Attorney’s Office, John Hall, DA Information Specialist, told Uken Report.

You may read the complaint here: https://ukenreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Rocha-Perez-INM2302448-complaint.pdf

Pérez, 30, was sentenced by the judge to four days in custody with one day actual and one day credit so a balance of two days which was ordered to be served in a work-release program on or before June 14.

The judge also sentenced the defendant to 36 months of summary probation, according to Hall. Probation terms include enrolling in and satisfactorily completing a first-offender DUI program for nine months, which must be completed by July 18, 2025.

Sentencing should bring to an end the case that began more than a year ago when La Quinta police  officers discovered Pérez allegedly passed out in his vehicle faced in the opposite lane of vehicle traffic flow. The vehicle lights were off.

Pérez was arrested on Feb. 10, 2024, for driving under the influence and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center.

Officers of the La Quinta Police Department arrested Pérez at 12:49 a.m. at Avenue 52 and SilverRock Way, according to jail records.

Pérez was alone when the incident occurred, according to authorities. No other vehicles were involved. He refused to answer any questions, instead referring all of them to his attorney, according to authorities.

According to authorities familiar with the incident, his blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit, according to those familiar with the incident.

“A few weeks ago, I made a terrible mistake of which I am truly sorry,” Perez told Uken Report in a text message at the time. “I’d like to sincerely apologize to my family, friends and community. I will do everything in my power to learn and grow from this.”

The true cost of a DUI in California is an estimated $45,435 — for a first-time offense, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which includes DUI classes, court costs, fines and attorney’s fees, increase in car insurance, towing and storage,