Eastlake mom pleads guilty to driving drunk in parking lot with kids in car

EASTLAKE, Ohio - An Eastlake mom has pleaded guilty to driving drunk with her kids in the car, in exchange for other charges being dropped in the case and a separate incident involving her son and the family dog.

Mindy Sotak, 29, admitted to drinking and driving with her kids at a hearing Tuesday in Willoughby Municipal Court.

In exchange for the guilty plea to OVI and one count of child endangering, all other charges in both cases were dismissed.

Sotak was arrested last month after she hit a car while pulling out of the Vine Street Walmart parking lot. An officer saw the incident and said Sotak had slurred speech, smelled of alcohol and wouldn't cooperate.

Days earlier, Sotak was slapped with a pair of child endangering charges after a utility worker saw a dog on top of one of her young children, tugging at the boy's clothes.

When police arrived to the house that day, they were greeted at the door by Sotak's 5-year-old. Inside, officers said Sotak was "highly intoxicated" and "not able to stand."

The boy was not hurt and the dog was their family pet.

Sotak has a pre-sentence hearing set for July 10 where she'll talk with the probation department to discuss a sentencing recommendation for the judge.