Casper Woman Won’t Argue She Used Child To Blow Into Alcohol Interlock Device

A Casper woman is admitting to driving under the influence, and will not dispute two other charges.

Ashley Katen entered a guilty plea to one felony count of DUI, and no contest pleas on two charges of child endangerment.

The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office says in May, a deputy saw Katen driving on Sixth Street in Casper near McKinley at a high rate of speed.

After she was pulled over, Katen told the deputy she had been drinking the night before, and then drank some more after she dropped off her children at school.

Prosecutors say her car had an interlock device on the ignition, and there was a twelve-pack of beer with two open cans inside.

A breathalyzer test at the time showed she had a blood-alcohol content of .17, more than twice the legal limit for driving.

Katen told the deputy that she had taken her two children to school earlier in the day and was sober enough to start the vehicle, but one of the children told investigators that he breathed into the interlock device to get the car started.

Prosecutors say Katen has had three prior DUI convictions.

She remains free on bond and will be sentenced at a later date.