Eastlake woman who drove drunk with kids in car sentenced

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio - The Eastlake mom who pleaded guilty to driving drunk with her children in the car was sentenced on Tuesday.

Mindy Sotak, 29, entered a guilty plea on one count of operating a vehicle under the influence and one count of child endangering in June, in exchange for other charges being dismissed.

Sotak was arrested after an officer witnessed her hit another car while pulling out of the Walmart parking lot on Vine Street. Police said Sotak slurred her speech, smelled like alcohol and would not cooperate.

According to the Willoughby Municipal Court, Sotak was sentenced to 180 days in jail with 160 days suspended, which means she will spend 20 days in jail. She also received a $1,000 fine, with $750 suspended, and will spend a year on probation.

Just days before the incident at Walmart, Sotak was charged with two counts of child endangering when a utility worker spotted a dog on top of her 5-year-old son. Police said the dog was tugging on the child’s clothes, but he was not injured.

When police arrived, the 5-year-old opened the door. Police said Stoak was “highly intoxicated” and “not about to stand.”