A Lawrenceville woman, Cynthia Maria Melendez, has been convicted of charges related to car theft and drunk driving in Cherokee County. The verdict arrived after Melendez was accused of taking an acquaintance's car and crashing it while intoxicated. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the incident began with a 911 call on June 9, 2023, where the caller reported that Melendez had taken her vehicle without permission.
Following a three-day trial, the jury found Melendez guilty on all charges: theft by taking, driving under the influence (per se), and driving under the influence (less safe) (alcohol). After becoming intoxicated earlier that night and staying at the home of an acquaintance, Melendez drove off after everyone had gone to bed. The report by WSB-TV details that her illicit joyride ended when she crashed into a parked car.
Officials state that Melendez called an Uber to pick her up following the crash, near which she was later arrested by authorities. All this unfolded after the defendant had spent the night drinking, eventually leading to decisions that would culminate in criminal convictions. Both the theft and the DUI charges reflect a series of events that the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office pieced together leading up to her arrest.
Now awaiting sentencing, the 43-year-old faces potential jail time for her actions. The Cherokee County District Attorney's Office announced her conviction. As per a report by WSB-TV, prosecutors said, "Melendez became drunk on June 9, 2023," highlighting the connection between her intoxicated state and the subsequent theft and crash.
