One of the charges brought against Riverbank City Councilman Jesse James White was reduced to a misdemeanor during a preliminary hearing on Friday in Stanislaus Superior Court.
White, who is currently in an alcohol treatment facility, will still have to answer all the charges, including several felony counts in connection with a hit and run accident in Oakdale on Feb. 20 of this year.
Following that accident, White reportedly attempted to flee from the scene, leaving his 4-year-old son strapped in his child safety seat in the car. White, who was found to be intoxicated at the time of the crash, struck a parked vehicle along West F Street.
The court hearing on Friday included testimony from several witnesses to the crash and subsequent 'take down' of White to keep him from leaving the scene before police arrived.
With his term on the council expiring, White did not pull papers to run for office again. He has periodically attended the council meetings since entering rehab but will term out of his council seat later this year.
Judge Dawna Reeves reduced a felony count of hit and run causing injury to a misdemeanor, for minor injuries that White's son suffered in the crash. The accident occurred early morning Feb. 20. Blood test results showed that White was driving with a blood alcohol content of nearly three times the legal limit.
Felony counts against White are DUI causing injury, child endangerment, driving under the influence and hit and run causing damage.
He is due back in court for additional action on Thursday, Aug. 23.
White, who is currently in an alcohol treatment facility, will still have to answer all the charges, including several felony counts in connection with a hit and run accident in Oakdale on Feb. 20 of this year.
Following that accident, White reportedly attempted to flee from the scene, leaving his 4-year-old son strapped in his child safety seat in the car. White, who was found to be intoxicated at the time of the crash, struck a parked vehicle along West F Street.
The court hearing on Friday included testimony from several witnesses to the crash and subsequent 'take down' of White to keep him from leaving the scene before police arrived.
With his term on the council expiring, White did not pull papers to run for office again. He has periodically attended the council meetings since entering rehab but will term out of his council seat later this year.
Judge Dawna Reeves reduced a felony count of hit and run causing injury to a misdemeanor, for minor injuries that White's son suffered in the crash. The accident occurred early morning Feb. 20. Blood test results showed that White was driving with a blood alcohol content of nearly three times the legal limit.
Felony counts against White are DUI causing injury, child endangerment, driving under the influence and hit and run causing damage.
He is due back in court for additional action on Thursday, Aug. 23.
