Maryland Human Services Secretary Rafael L贸pez pleaded guilty Monday to driving under the influence in D.C. earlier this year, under an agreement that requires him to do community service and allows the state official to potentially avoid time in jail.
If L贸pez follows the conditions in the agreement, the case could eventually be dismissed, putting a close to a nearly yearlong legal battle.
L贸pez was charged in D.C. with driving under the influence and operating a vehicle while impaired on the evening of Jan. 18.
He was driving back from a friend’s home at around 7:30 p.m. when an officer saw his SUV crossing the center line multiple times. L贸pez also stopped for a red light, but waited 10 seconds after the light turned green to drive, according to court documents.
An officer pulled over L贸pez’s SUV, and noted he had 鈥渞ed, watery eyes鈥� and smelled of alcohol.
The officer administered several sobriety tests as well as a breath test which recorded L贸pez’s blood alcohol concentration at 0.097. The legal limit in the District is 0.08.
L贸pez changed his plea to guilty on Monday while entering a deferred sentencing agreement with prosecutors.
The Baltimore Banner was the , which requires L贸pez to complete 40 hours of community service over the next 12 months. During that time, he has to pay a $100 fine and cannot violate the law.
If L贸pez fails to maintain his end of the agreement, he could be sentenced to up to 180 days in jail and fined as much as $1,000.
He’s expected to appear back in court next year on Dec. 1.
L贸pez was appointed by Gov. Wes Moore as secretary of Maryland鈥檚 Department of Human Services in January 2023. In that position, he acts as the “state’s primary social service provider,” working to help people in need of financial assistance, provide services and protect vulnerable Marylanders, .
L贸pez was placed on administrative leave from his job after reporting the DUI charge to Moore’s administration.
But he returned to work about three months later on April 15, 蜜桃视频app’s partners at Maryland Matters reported. The administration has previously taken steps to move past L贸pez’s arrest over the summer and noted that he took 鈥渇ull responsibility鈥� for his actions.
鈥淚 take full responsibility for my actions,鈥� L贸pez said in a statement in June. 鈥淚 have taken the appropriate corrective measures and appreciate the support I have received from my family, friends and colleagues.鈥�
蜜桃视频app has reached out to Gov. Moore’s office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
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