REDBANK TWP., Pa. (EYT) — A 24-year-old woman who is facing DUI and child endangerment charges following an incident in New Bethlehem waived her preliminary hearing this week.
According to court documents, the following charges against 24-year-old Lashona Monique Kennedy of Pittsburgh were waived for court on Tuesday, August 14:
– Endangering Welfare of Children — Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Felony 3
– DUI: Controlled Substance — Schedule 1 — 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
– Disregard Traffic Lane (Single), Summary
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Restraint Systems — Child Booster Seat, Summary
Charges have been transferred to the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas.
Kennedy remains free on $1,000.00 unsecured bail.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 7:52 p.m. on May 11, Troopers Jones and Doverspike were on routine patrol when they observed a silver four-door sedan traveling on State Route 66 north from New Bethlehem and failing to drive within a single lane multiple times.
The complaint states that the car was traveling well below the speed limit of 55 miles per hour, and the driver used turn signals but then did not turn and continued to travel north.
Trooper Jones initiated a traffic stop, and the vehicle pulled onto the side of the road with half of the vehicle still on the roadway.
Trooper Jones approached the vehicle, and the driver rolled down her window. He then requested that she pull into the parking lot to her right.
According to the complaint, when Trooper Jones approached the vehicle again, he noticed the scent of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. He asked the driver for her license, registration, and proof of insurance, and identified her as Lashona Monique Kennedy.
The complaint states that while Trooper Jones was speaking to Kennedy, he continued to smell the scent of burnt marijuana. When asked if she had marijuana, Kennedy stated that she had smoked it 30 to 45 minutes prior to the traffic stop. When asked again if she had marijuana, Kennedy denied having any.
After performing standard field sobriety tests, Kennedy was placed under arrest for DUI, according to the complaint.
No marijuana was found during a search of the vehicle.
It was also noted in the complaint that a seven-year-old child was sleeping in the rear driver’s side seat without being buckled into a proper booster seat.
The complaint states that a lab report dated May 23 found the following Schedule 1 controlled substances in Kennedy’s blood sample: 11-Hydroxy Delta-9 THC, Delta-9 Carboxy THC, and Delta-9 THC.
