A Fort Bend County jury has convicted a 63-year-old man for drunk driving after he forced a woman off the road six years ago, then told police that his daughter was driving at the time.
Houston resident Gregorio Rubalcaba Cano was charged with the crime after a resident called police to report Cano driving erratically in December 2005.
According to Assistant District Attorney Andrew Herreth, Jalene Blanscet of Missouri City was travelling north on U.S. 59, south of Sugar Land, when a white Chevy Astro van drove into her lane and ran her off the road. Blanscet kept control of her vehicle and followed the van as it continued to swerve across the highway. She then dialed 911 and relayed the information to the dispatcher.
Shortly after, the van pulled to the shoulder and a second vehicle pulled in behind it. Blanscet pulled in behind the second vehicle as well. She noticed a man and a woman exit the second vehicle and attempt to get the driver, Cano, out of the van, but he appeared too intoxicated to do so. Unable to get the driver out of the van, the pair from the second car pushed the driver into the passenger seat and the woman, later identified as the defendant’s daughter, got into the driver’s seat and began to drive away. Blanscet relayed the events to the police dispatcher, but before she pulled away, the man from the second car came towards her cursing in an aggressive manner.
Sugar Land Police Officer Joyce Combest stopped the van at Sweetwater Blvd., and having received information that the passenger had been driving, approached the passenger’s door first. The officer noticed that Cano was incoherent with slurred speech, red, glassy eyes, was unbalanced, and smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage. When Combest asked the defendant for his driver’s license, he immediately told her he was not driving.
At trial, the defendant agreed he was intoxicated but continued to argue that he wasn’t driving; rather his daughter had been driving the entire night. Cano’s daughter, Hilary, also testified she was the driver and that Blanscet was not paying attention.
“Mrs. Blanscet’s actions that night saved an untold amount of lives, including Mr. Cano’s,” said Herreth. “When she dialed 911 she sent a message that our community will not tolerate drunk drivers and she should be commended. I’m also proud that the jury decided to hold Mr. Cano responsible for his actions that night.”
Cano was tried in County Court at Law No. 4 before Presiding Judge R. H. “Sandy” Bielstein. Driving While Intoxicated in this case is a Class B Misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail. Cano’s punishment will be determined by the court at a sentencing hearing on April 5. He is probation eligible.
Thank You Drew! My husband and I run a non profit that train First Responders on anything to do with a vehicle and rescue and recovery. If people heard the stories we hear each and every day of innocent people having to be extricated out of vehicles because a drunk driver caused an accident more people would make the call and save a life!!!! His daughter was arrested that night for outstanding warrants in Wharton County! They both however should have been charged with perjury for lying on the witness stand!
His daughter should have to serve the same punishment as he receives.
Three cheers for Mrs. Blanscet!