Nebraska man facing child abuse charges after minor arrested for DUI
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Nebraska man is facing child abuse charges after authorities say he knowingly let a minor drive under the influence of alcohol.
Early Sunday morning, a deputy with the York County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a vehicle on Road Nine near Road J for a traffic violation.
Deputies noticed the driver — who was a minor — was drunk and smelled alcohol coming from the car.
According to authorities, a field test was given, and the driver blew over the legal limit of 0.08%.
The minor was transported for further testing and evaluation.
The passenger — David Waegli Jr. of Henderson — brought alcohol to Recharge Lake, where both he and the minor had been drinking, according to the sheriff’s office.
Waegli’s driver’s license is suspended due to a prior DUI conviction, and police said he knowingly allowed the minor to drive after drinking alcohol.
Waegli was booked into the York County Jail on suspicion of intentional child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a child, procuring alcohol to a minor and possession of an open alcohol container.
“This incident serves as a serious reminder that enabling underage drinking and impaired driving not only puts lives at risk but carries significant legal consequences,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post. “We remain committed to protecting our communities and holding individuals accountable for behavior that endangers public safety.”
