Woman accused of DUI with children in vehicle

A Kalispell woman recently was charged with driving drunk with two 4-year-old children in a vehicle.

Sabrina Michele McCafferty, 33, is facing a felony charge of criminal child endangerment following a November 2019 incident.

According to charging documents, officers responded to a business parking lot located off U.S. 2 West. A caller told officers a woman arrived to pick up children from the business and believed she was under the influence of alcohol.

A Kalispell Police Department officer arrived as the vehicle was backing out of the lot and he then stopped it.

When the officer spoke to the driver, identified as McCafferty, he reported her eyes were watery, speech slurred and he could smell alcohol on her breath.

McCafferty allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the day. The officer also saw the two 4-year-old children seated in the back.

When McCafferty performed a field sobriety test, the officer saw numerous signs of impairment. She then agreed to submit a blood sample and when it was analyzed by the Montana State Crime Lab, it indicated her blood alcohol level was 0.217, nearly three times the legal limit in Montana.

McCafferty faces a maximum term of 10 years in the Montana State Prison. She is scheduled to appear in Flathead County District Court for arraignment at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.