An Ephrata man was recently sentenced for leaving his 6-year-old daughter home alone overnight – while he was getting charged with drunk driving.
Douglas D. Brewbaker will serve 3 days to 6 months in Lancaster County Prison, followed by 5 years of probation, in accordance with a plea deal negotiated by Assistant District Attorney Travis S. Anderson.
On the night of Sept. 17, Ephrata police found Brewbaker, 60, at a liquor store on West Main Street, trying to drive after being denied service inside the store. Officers pulled him out of the car.
Brewbaker was noticeably intoxicated, and was wearing only a T-shirt around his waist as a skirt. He later told officials he drank a fifth of whiskey.
Testing revealed a blood-alcohol level of .264 percent – more than three times Pennsylvania’s legal limit for drivers.
The next day, police receive a call from a school resource officer who reported a 6-year-old girl never showed up at school. Police discovered the girl is Brewbaker’s daughter and was home alone overnight. Neighbors found her crying outside her East Walnut Street apartment about 9:30 a.m.
Lancaster County Children & Youth Services are investigating the situation.
Brewbaker pleaded guilty to DUI and endangering a child in exchange for the sentence.
He will report to prison Friday night. If released after the minimum 3 days, he’ll serve the remainder of the 6 months on parole, according to County Judge Merrill Spahn’s sentence.
As part of the sentence, Brewbaker must complete parenting classes and is prohibited from having alcohol.
Ephrata police Officer Kenneth Thorp filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright