Deputies say a 36-year-old Memphis mother is promising to beat a DUI charge after they pulled her over on Highway 385 with her 13-year-old daughter in the passenger seat. According to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the Jeep Compass she was driving was seen swerving and nearly hitting the guardrail near Winchester and Riverdale before officers made the stop. The woman, identified by deputies as Erica Newsome, was arrested on multiple counts that include driving under the influence and child endangerment, and her daughter was released to the girl's father at the scene.
During the traffic stop, deputies reported that they smelled alcohol and noted that Newsome had watery eyes, slurred speech and an unsteady gait. They say she refused to take a standardized field sobriety test. According to WREG, she was booked on charges that include reckless driving, public intoxication, child abuse and neglect, and child endangerment. Deputies also quoted Newsome as telling them she would see them in court and was going to beat the DUI charge, according to the sheriff's account.
Investigators say Newsome later agreed to sign a consent form for a blood sample, and her blood kit was sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for toxicology testing. Per WREG, she is scheduled to appear in Shelby County court on Thursday. The sheriff's office said the 13-year-old was turned over to her father at the scene following the stop.
Charges carry separate child-safety penalties
Under Tennessee law, child endangerment and similar offenses fall under a range of criminal statutes that can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the child's age and whether there was any injury. The state sets out stiffer penalties in cases involving younger children, according to Tennessee Code § 39-15-401. When a DUI is charged along with child endangerment, it creates a separate route for prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties.
State testing and next steps
Because Newsome's blood sample was sent to the state lab, the toxicology results are expected to play a major role in shaping any formal DUI case and potential additional charges. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation oversees forensic toxicology testing for the state and provides information on how those tests are requested and processed, according to the agency's website (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation).
Newsome is scheduled to appear in Shelby County court on Thursday, and upcoming booking records or court filings will show whether prosecutors move forward with the full list of charges. This story will be updated as new court records and official statements are released.
