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Brenda Duclos Did A Really Stupid Thing

October 4, 2009 at 8:30 am by Jaded

Pompano Beach, FL - Susan Grace was out and about Wednesday at about 5:00 p.m., when she happened upon a rather alarming sight – walking on the side of the road, along the white line, were two little ones just barely out of the toddler stage – one of them dragging a pillow, both barefoot. “I started panicking and I rolled down the window and I’m yelling, ‘Stop, stop,’ and of course, they can’t hear. And traffic’s just whizzing by them,” said Susan, a preschool teacher. She pulled her car over to the side of the road and waited with the kids until law enforcement showed up on scene. Seems the kiddos were on their way to pick up their older sister from school. But, where was mommy? While officers were questioning the kids, ages 3 and 4, one of them let it slip that “Mommy is drunk.” Hehhh…my kiddos had quite the vocabulary at that age, but the word ‘drunk’ wasn’t part of it.

Brenda Duclos

The children’s uncle happened to be driving by the now crowded shoulder and recognized the kiddos. He pulled over to speak with officers and told deputies where mommy lived. When officers arrived at the home they found mommy, 44-year-old Brenda Duclos, passed out cold behind the wheel of the family grocery getter – the engine running. On the seat beside her, four empty wine bottles. Yes, Brenda had been all set to pick her older child up from school when she passed the hell out. The kids, perhaps worried about their sibling getting home safely, climbed out of the mini-van and set out to pick her up themselves. By that time, the older child had already walked to her uncle’s house when it dawned on her that her parental unit wasn’t gonna show.

Brenda refused a breathalyzer at the scene. She told officers that she has a drinking problem (ya think?) and that she had been drinking wine for a good part of the day. But, she adamantly stated that she hadn’t been driving drunk. Um. Granted, she wasn’t actually driving, but sounds to me like she sure as shit planned on it at one point. Brenda’s husband, who had been working at the time, arrived to collect the children and had this to say: “She’s stupid. She did a stupid thing,” before driving off with the kids. He later changed his mind about the stupid part and praised her on her mad motherin’ skills. “I just want to let everyone know, my wife’s not a bad person that’s made out to be like that. She’s a great mom, a great wife. We’re struggling like everyone else has been.” Uh-huh. I was more inclined to agree with him when the word ‘stupid’ came into play.

Brenda Duclos spent a day and a half behind bars before bonding out on $5,000. At her first court appearance on Thursday, Judge John Hurley read her the riot act. “Your children were found two miles away from you passed out in your driveway,” he said. “If that’s not a danger to your children, then I don’t know what is, ma’am, short of having a loaded gun with them.” It is reported that the judge also vowed to “personally call the Department of Children & Families to make sure officials were aware of how she endangered her children.” You go, judge! Brenda is being charged with DUI and child neglect. The state of Florida says cops can make an arrest on DUI charges in cases where a person suspected of being impaired is in physical control of a vehicle, even if they are just sitting behind the wheel with the keys in the ignition and/or the engine running.

Source | Source

Billie Vercellona Is A Drunken Moron (dreamindemon.com)
Martine Lifluer Forgot Something (dreamindemon.com)
Tammy Truitt Is A Bad Babysitter (dreamindemon.com)

Tags: Child Neglect, Crime, DUI, Florida, Mugshot

24 Comments

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http://www.myspace.com/dneil73 Dneilz

She needs to get her ass to AA and start being a mother that doesn’t endanger her children. Stupid, foolish and dumb on her part. I feel bad for her children and husband.
witzah

So glad they charged her with DUI – the way the story is described, she was found “in actual physical control” of the vehicle. No, not driving at the time, but she had the power & control over the car to start it up any second she gained minimal consciousness. Hell, car couldve been in drive or reverse & her foot been pressed on break. What if her foot slipped?

Facts also suggest kids were in the car with her until they extricated themselves. That would make the degree of DUI much more severe in most states. Good tha they threw this on.

So far, State’s response to the discovery of this crime is extremely appropriate – from the charges faced to the Judge’s admonition & promise.

Its about time we read a story with this kind of reaction instead of her being slapped on the wrist.
malq

I think the law of being in control of a vehicle applies everywhere.
I know a guy that got in his car and started it to stay warm. He got a DUI as well. That was in CA.

here is a video of the judge raking her over the coals as she sobs.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/crime/2009/10/03/wsvn.fl.drunk.driving.mom.wsvn
Abroad

I can remember at least one case from Danish courts where someone was acquitted of drunk driving in a similar case, Malq. It was a very, very cold night and it was succesfully argued that the person in question has only put the key in the ignition to not freeze to death in the snow. In fact, it would have been difficult to imagine anyone driving in the conditions as found. And much was made of this case at the time, because the person would usually have been sentenced as in your example.
Kdogg

Sorry, a mother who drives drunk with her kids is NOT a good mother. She’s a selfish bitch who puts her getting a buzz above the welfare of her kids.
Wonder

carseats ? I dont know of a 3 or 4 yr old that can free themselves, from the harnass. I am having trouble remembering at what age my kids could open a car door from in or out side. hmmmm She is getting off easy.

I have heard of people that try to do the responsible thing and pull over park lets say in a grocery store lot and move to the back of the vehicle to sleep off a drunk. One other example, a person leaving a ball game, having been parked in the stadium lot, placed their keys outside, inside the wheel of the front tire and jumped in back. They still give dui’s and or public intoxication. There is a law for everything if they want ya they are going to get ya
whisperswing

I remember some mental midget here actually racing home drunk and pulling into driveway and taking keys tossing onto the drive thinking that legally they were safe from being arrested!! Well they had time to learn about the proper laws while they sat in jail.
Dr.Keegee

This lady probably is a good mom when she’s sober. She needs to work at removing the last three words from that statement though.

This was refreshing:

It is reported that the judge also vowed to “personally call the Department of Children & Families to make sure officials were aware of how she endangered her children.”

I know there are many judicious jurists out there but it’s usually the ‘wrist slappers’ who say ‘naughty, naughty’ we read about all too often.
V

her eyes look like she has a 6 bottle wine hangover. ick. obviously the older of the two kids decided they needed to get their sister from school and had to bring the littlest one along. that’s a clear indication that mommy’s been a wino for quite some time when one of the kids is at the stage where they try to take on parental responsibility/roles. not like passing out with 4 empty bottles next to you doesn’t scream alcoholic.:-) IMO the dad sounds like he is making excuses for a situation that he was well aware of but chose to ignore, which if true, he is just as responsible as her for the neglect of those kids.
nellymed

So if one of the kids had been run over while the wino was passed out in the car would she still be a good mom? Dad sounds like a very experienced enabler and like he would gladly leave these poor children with this waste of space. Poor kids this probably hasn’t been the first time mommy’s been drunk.
mopar

She’s pretty nuts she looks mad as hell to me.
defenestratethis

I dont know, nellymed..think Id need more info before calling her a ‘waste of space’. But she definitely sounds like an alcoholic, and I’m glad the judge was heavy-handed when he threw the book at her.
boilly

Based on this comment, “She’s a great mom, a great wife,” it’s safe to say this drunk’s husband is maybe an even bigger douche than she is! How can you defend her actions when she put your own children at risk??? You’re married to a raging alcoholic, you moron, and she’s been that way as you’ve been knocking her up and putting more children at risk. Parenting brought to you by Dumb and Dumber. Let her drink herself to death but let someone else raise these children.
witzah

While most if not all states have (or recognize) APC cases, appellate courts are whittling down so far as WHAT facts satisfy “actual physical control” – if the person were in the back of the car with the engine running less likely to be APC. Passed out at a stoplight with foot on the break? Not so much. No black & white rule, though it used to be fairly solid that the engine running would be the make or break question. Now its less certain what makes APC. Legislators are trying to balance appropriate punishment for offenders with not penalizing the drunk who realizes (a wee bit late perhaps) they R too drunk & pull over _ thought being we don’t want ppl who would pull over because they’re drunk 2 try & make it home because they’re screwed regardless.

Either way, most APC cases can be simultaneously argued as circumstantial evidence of actually driving. Doesn’t seem so in this case because in driveway – but location of kids in car & engine running & time of day (pick up from school) WHILE other child was left alone without a ride from school makes this sound VERY solidly APC solid.
mopar

So she will get her dui and defax will be on them for awhile and she will stress out but will she take (with or without encouragment to unwind) that next hit. They say reds are fun bombed. We are all diffrent when high and sober but the sober person we are (good or bad) is the one who makes the decision to pick up the pipe,bottle,needle or whatever. She is beautiful and probably great sober but for that one weakness. A fatal flaw indeed.
CassieMomma

When kids are that age, they are so innocent. They were just trying to be responsible, but clearly not understanding the danger of their actions. I am so glad they weren’t hurt, the Uncle drove by so they could be identified right away and the older one was already in his custody. Sounds like all the kids are really good, it’s unfortunate they know the word drunk and live that life. Hopefully Dad will set up some healthy boundaries until (or if and when) Brenda gets her life together! This story is breaking my heart….I can just see the two kids walking down the highway…..
Rotten Apple

Honestly, the fact that she was this intoxicated while caring for her children speaks VOLUMES. Even if she hadn’t been behind the wheel or planning to leave her house, drinking to the point of passing out while you are caring for your children is neglect. Period.
vxiii

Wow, what i find most heartbreaking about this is that the 2 little brothers tried to walk to pick her up, dragging a pillow down the street they were worried about her, they said to themselves momy is sleeping, lets go get our sister, they walked to get her, the 2 little guys as old as they were were only worried for their sister, that is so fucking sad… we all ought to have to get certified before we have kids… thinking of this makes me cry…
Autumnnotaro

Yes i know that Brenda has a drinking problem & yes she did put her childern endanger , & was passed out at the wheel but everyone make mistakes , & of course i do know this was a big mistake but you don't have to say rude things about her , I'm sure that everyone who writes these thing have been in a situation that you regret , so please don't make nasty remarks if you were in position that you made a mistake & who ever made this articals don't add your personal remarks , because you don't know her .
Abroad

If you hadn't dredged the case up by responding to it today, this story would have stayed forgotten…….

Just thought you should know this.
kid lol .

She wasnt' charge with a DUI , they dropped that charge .
lf

maybe so, but i have better things to do with my life then to point out other peoples mistakes and post comments about them. Like i said before everyone makes mistakes some more than others and those who live in glass houses shouldnt through stones…..
http://www.dreamindemon.com Jaded

those who live in glass houses shouldnt through stones…..

…or walk around butt-nekkid.
Parrot Toes (kathybird)

One of the worst things I did during my drinking years (as a teenager) was passing out in a snowbank. That was a mistake. I never drove but I did come close to dancing nekkid on a table top (no Morbid, Jaded – I don't have pics). Once I had kids, the drinking stopped. I don't live in a glass house by the way, so I feel quite comfortable throwing stones at her.