SAN JUAN COUNTY — A Farmington woman has been charged with aggravated driving while under the influence and child abuse after deputies alleged she crashed a vehicle while impaired with two young children inside, according to a criminal complaint filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.

Kaylee S. Cox, 22, was charged following the May 21 incident near Road 390 in Farmington, according to court records.

All charges are allegations based on court records, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

According to a statement of probable cause, deputies were dispatched at about 6:43 p.m. to the area of 405 Road 390 regarding a crash involving an allegedly impaired driver. Deputies alleged Cox was operating a 2018 Ford Escape when the vehicle struck a curb and sustained front passenger-side damage.

Deputies reported a 2-week-old infant and a 4-year-old child were inside the vehicle during the incident. According to the affidavit, both children were seated in the back seat, with the infant allegedly secured in a car seat and the older child allegedly restrained in a booster seat.

The affidavit states deputies observed damage to the front passenger-side tire, wheel and fender area of the vehicle. Deputies also reported observing fresh tire marks near the curb outside Dino’s Gas Station.

Deputies reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol while speaking with Cox and alleged she admitted consuming alcohol earlier in the day. Court records state deputies also reported Cox had watery and red eyes and difficulty maintaining balance during field sobriety tests.

According to the affidavit, deputies reported Cox showed signs of impairment during standardized field sobriety tests, including the walk-and-turn and one-leg-stand exercises.

Deputies reported Cox later consented to breath testing using an Intoxilyzer 9000. According to court records, the test results allegedly showed breath alcohol concentration readings of 0.20 and 0.21.

CHARGES FILED

• Aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs (.16 or above)
• Two counts of abuse of a child (does not result in death or great bodily harm)

CASE STATUS

Court records state Cox was booked into the San Juan County Adult Detention Center following the incident. Online court records reviewed May 22 did not immediately indicate whether she remained in custody.

Court records did not indicate whether Cox has retained legal counsel.

SOURCE

According to a criminal complaint and statement of probable cause filed in San Juan County Magistrate Court.