Drunken Driving Charge Leads To Arrest On Child Abuse Charges

CHAPARRAL, NM — Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested a woman on child abuse charges as they investigated a crash she allegedly caused.

Authorities report Lori Gilliam, 42, drove her vehicle into a telephone pole near the intersection of Hermosa Drive and Cole Road. Investigators said they administered a sobriety test at the scene and determined the woman was driving drunk.

Deputies said DWI charges were enhanced as they discovered the woman’s eight-year-old daughterreceivedminor injuriesin the crash. The girl was a passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, officials said.

Neitherpersonwas wearing restraints, authorities said.Air bags deployed, and thatprevented more serious injuries, deputies said.

Investigators secured two other breath samples from Gilliam and the readings topped out at .26 and .27 respectively, they said. The results are more than three times the legal limit.

Officers booked Gilliamon one count of intentional child abuse, which isa third degree felony. She was also charged with careless driving, not having a driver’s license or proof of insurance, and she was cited for a lack of appropriate safety restraint for a child.

She remains in the Dona Ana County Detention Center.