DAD TURNED IN BY SON PLEADS GUILTY

Sentencing: Keith Wallace, whose 3yearold tipped police to marijuana in
car, says arrest has led to a change in attitude.

Last week, Keith Wallace reached a personal low when he was arrested for
drunk driving and speeding, not to mention child endangerment because his
3yearold son, Brandon, was in the car. Then Brandon upped the ante by
reaching down inside the Toyota, grabbing a bag of marijuana and handing it
over to the Oxnard police officers who were giving dad a field sobriety
test.

"Here," the boy said to the stunned officers, adding the word "bad."

But Wallace, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges Tuesday, said his
arrest may have been the best thing that could have happened to him. "I
definitely believe it's a positive thing now," said the 25yearold Ventura
resident, noting that his wife, Shannon, is sticking by him and is going
with him to his Alcoholics Anonymous classes.

"We're doing this as a family. I feel no resentment toward my son for
turning me in. It was kind of an act of God, and nobody got killed. "I
didn't want it to come to that for me to stop; I didn't want to kill
anybody before getting help for my alcoholism."

Wallace appeared in Ventura County Municipal Court and pleaded guilty to
driving under the influence and child endangerment. In exchange, the
district attorney dropped other charges, including marijuana possession.
Afterward, Wallace declared his seventh day of sobriety, and said his
family is stronger than ever.

"The last seven days have been really good," he said. "It's made me realize
how important my family is to me."

In addition to the AA sessions, the couple will attend parenting classes
together, as ordered by Municipal Court CommissionerKent M. Kellegrew.

As for little Brandon, he spent the day with relatives. At such a young
age, he isn't quite aware of what happened, despite a number of TV crews
and newspaper reporters stopping by the family's west Ventura home last
week. His only reaction came when his mother showed up at the Oxnard Police
Department the night of the arrest. She was trying to remain composed, but
when she saw her son, she burst into tears.

"Mommy, it's OK," said the youngster, sporting a newly acquired Oxnard
Police Department "Junior Officer" badge. "Daddy's coming home. The police
are helping daddy."

In addition to attending the parenting classes, Wallace will have to serve
30 days in County Jail, starting Jan. 5. He received one day's credit for
the time served after the Dec. 16 arrest, which occurred on Harbor
Boulevard north of 5th Street. He will have to pay a fine of about $2,000,
which he arranged to handle in monthly $100 payments.

However, Wallace, an unemployed construction worker, will also be looking
for a job. "I don't think he's going to have a very easy time finding a job
with all this," Shannon said. "I'm very worried about that."

For now, they are trying to reclaim a marriage that by their own admission
was in some trouble. Afterward, as they walked to the county Probation
Department to check in as required, the couple said they are again looking
forward to Christmas. "We're going to be together, we've got presents under
the tree," Wallace said. "We're a family."

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