UKIAH – On April 22, 2025, the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office announced that Richard James Ault, 57, of the Laytonville area, was found guilty of two misdemeanors — driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol reading of .08 or greater.

The jury also found true a sentencing enhancement that alleged Ault’s blood alcohol was .15 or greater at the time he was driving and crashed his vehicle on November 28, 2024.

The breath test evidence presented at trial demonstrated that the defendant had been driving with a blood alcohol of .25/.27.

The law enforcement agencies that developed the evidence used to convict the defendant were the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice forensic crime laboratory.

“Driving under the influence is reckless and is entirely preventable.  Our thanks to the law enforcement officers and the criminalists at California DOJ forensic labs who work to protect us from those who drive while under the influence.  Their work helps to keep us safe while out on the roads in our vehicles or out walking in our communities,”  said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association President Alan Barcelona.