ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 17NM03367
Date: December 19, 2017
FORMER FULLERTON CITY MANAGER CONVICTED OF RECKLESS DRIVING INVOLVING ALCOHOL ON ELECTION NIGHT
FULLERTON, Calif. – The former city manager of Fullerton pleaded guilty today to reckless driving involving alcohol on election night in 2016.
Defendant: Joseph Burt Felz, 58, Fullerton
Pleaded guilty today to:
One misdemeanor count of reckless driving involving alcohol
Counts as a prior conviction if the defendant is charged with driving under the influence within 10 years
Sentence:
- 40 hours of community service
- Three years of informal probation
- Must complete three month First Offender Alcohol Program and pay a $390 fine
- Restitution to the City of Fullerton
Circumstances of the Case
In the early morning hours of Nov. 9, 2016, Felz recklessly drove a vehicle in a residential area of Fullerton after consuming alcohol.
The defendant drove over a curb and struck a tree, and a witness to the incident called 911.
The Fullerton Police Department (FPD) located Felz nearby and he unlawfully failed to stop his vehicle immediately.
FPD administered field sobriety tests and drove Felz to his home in a police car. FPD transferred the case to the OCDA for further investigation and legal review.
Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Nichols, Special Prosecutions Unit
The OCDA’s investigation and legal review of the conduct of FPD personnel in connection with this incident is still ongoing.
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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718
Michelle Van Der Linden,Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486