Woman Arrested For DUI With Child In Car

Edmonson Voice Staff Report
A traffic safety checkpoint at New Grove Road and KY HWY 101 resulted in an arrest with multiple charges for a Chalybeate woman around 10:30pm on Saturday, July 16. The checkpoint was conducted by the sheriff's office and Kentucky State Police.

The Edmonson County's Sheriff's Office said a 2008 Mercury passenger car operated by Sandra Payton, (44) of Chalybeate, stopped at the checkpoint when officials said they noticed Payton showing signs of impairment.

The officers said that after standard field sobriety tests were administered, it was determined that the woman was driving under the influence, suspected to be caused by prescription drugs. 

Sandra Payton (44) Chalybeate. (Hart Co. Jail)

​Officers also reported finding hydrocodone pills along with a piece of a suspected Gabapentin tablet that they said were in an improper container.

Payton was charged with:

• Operating motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs etc, first offense, aggravated circumstance
• One headlight
• Failure of owner to maintain required insurance, first offense
• Prescription controlled substance not in proper container
• Illegal possession of legend drug 

In the vehicle was also a child that officials said was around five years old, which resulted in an additional charge of Wanton Endangerment 1st degree, a class D felony. If found guilty, she could face up to 5 years in prison on that charge alone.

Payton was transported and lodged in the Hart County Jail.

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