He Allowed His Son to Drive His Vehicle
HOLLISTER—Officers with the Hollister Police Department arrested 50-year-old Hollister resident and father Roberto Nunez for child endangerment and other charges after his 16-year-old teenager son sideswiped another vehicle on South Street.
In the early hours of Monday, March 9, at 12:50 in the morning, Hollister Police were on patrol driving southbound on Powell Street near South Street, when they observed a vehicle approach Powell Street and sideswipe a parked vehicle and then did not stop. The officers pulled the vehicle over on the 1100 block of Powell Street. Upon making contact with the driver, they discovered that he was an unlicensed 16-year-old juvenile. They also discovered that there was a 9-year-old juvenile also in the vehicle.
The two boys were picked up on Powell Street.
Officers made contact with the registered owner of the vehicle and called him to the scene. The boy’s father, Roberto Barcenas Nunez, Sr. confirmed that he allowed his son to drive his brother to the store to buy ice cream after midnight Sunday. However, the boys may have gotten lost in the early morning hours. The location they were picked up was 3 miles from their home, and nowhere near any retail stores that would sell ice cream. It was in the vicinity of San Benito High School, where the young driver would presumably be in class later that morning.
“We want to remind people that it is a criminal violation to allow an unlicensed driver or a person with a suspended license to drive your vehicle.” Hollister Police Captain Carlos Reynoso wrote in a press release, “It is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or imprisonment or both.”
While Officers interviewed Mr. Nunez they noticed that he was showing signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance. After an evaluation at the scene Officers arrested Nunez and transported him to San Benito County Jail. He was charged with allowing an unlicensed person to drive his vehicle, child endangerment, being under the influence of a controlled substance and a probation violation. Nunez, who lists his occupation as fork lift driver, was arrested in February as well on a warrant and probation violations.
If anyone has information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Police Department at 831-636-4330.
