NewsCovering Colorado

Actions

Colorado judge facing jail time for 2nd DUI arrest

Colorado judge facing jail time for 2nd DUI arrest
Posted at 7:09 PM, May 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-11 21:09:07-04

BACA COUNTY, Colo. — A Baca County judge is looking at mandatory jail time for a second driving under the influence arrest while on probation for her first offense in 2018.

Debra Gunkel, 62, pleaded guilty to her first DUI offense in Prowers County on Oct. 26, 2018, receiving a deferred judgment if she successfully completed two years of probation.

However, less than 10 months into her probation period, she was arrested in Kansas for her second DUI offense on Aug. 17, 2019, according to a news release from the 18th Judicial District.

On Thursday, Gunkel pleaded guilty in Prowers County Court to violating the terms of her 2018 probation for the Kansas DUI. The court revoked the deferred judgment and entered the DUI conviction.

When Gunkel pleads guilty to the Kansas DUI in June, jail time is mandatory, the release read.