Mother arrested for allegedly driving son to school drunk

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — State police arrested and charged an Orange resident with a second offense for drunken driving, assault and battery on a police officer and child endangerment while operating under the influence Monday after she was pulled over while driving her son to school. Jill Castonguay, 47, of 45 Lake Ave., Orange, was stopped Monday morning after another driver notified police that he worried she was falling asleep behind the wheel because the black Jeep Liberty she was driving was allegedly “all over the road” and passed over the rumble strips several times while she made her way down Route 2. According to a report issued by the state police, Trooper Dante DeMarco pulled over Ms. Castonguay as she exited Route 2 on Exit 23 because she allegedly “crossed to the left partially into oncoming traffic.” Mr. DeMarco said he approached the vehicle and while speaking with Ms. Castonguay smelled a “strong odor of alcoholic beverage on her breath,” and saw that “her eyes were pinpointed and red and her body movements were lethargic.” According to the report, Ms. Castonguay was asked to step out of the vehicle and Mr. DeMarco conducted a field sobriety test. During the field sobriety test, Mr. DeMarco reported that she “swayed from side to side and side stepped to the point I thought she was going to fall.” Ms. Castonguay was unable to recite the alphabet and told Mr. DeMarco that she had taken two Klonopins (muscle relaxers) that morning. Mr. DeMarco then advised Ms. Castonguay that she was under arrest for operating under the influence and she began struggling with the officer and allegedly “kicked him with her bare foot.” A Gardner police cruiser was called to the scene to bring her son to school and Mr. DeMarco found four pill bottles in Ms. Castonguay’s possession. According to court documents, while she was being booked, Ms. Castonguay had a blood alcohol percentage of .16 and .15, which is twice the legal limit. During the booking process, Ms. Castonguay was reportedly uncuffed so police could remove the draw string from her hooded sweatshirt, at which time she allegedly grabbed her purse and got a hold of one of the pill bottles. Mr. DeMarco wrote that she then allegedly demanded that police allow her to take two more Klonopins and said it was untrue that she had any earlier that morning. After police refused to allow her more medication, she was brought to a holding cell where she allegedly assaulted Mr. DeMarco by grabbing a hold of his right bicep, leaving two noticeable bruises. Ms. Castonguay was arraigned in Gardner District Court later that afternoon and was released on personal recognizance and placed on pretrial probation. Under probation, according to court records, Ms. Castonguay will no longer have custody over her 8-year-old son until the matter is resolved. Ms. Castonguay must also abstain from drinking alcohol, attend counseling and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and agree to random drug and alcohol screenings. Ms. Castonguay is due back in Hampshire District Court Nov. 7. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 10/8/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 238)