Trouble With Alcohol

An attorney who had six alcohol-related criminal incidents from 2008 to 2013 has been suspended for two years, according to the California Bar Journal.

From the summary

In one 2012 matter, police were called to a Mexican restaurant in Moss Landing to investigate a reported battery. When they arrived they found Soukup, whom they were told was the perpetrator, sitting in the driver’s seat of her car. When officers opened the door, they smelled alcohol and Soukup’s eyes were bloodshot and glossy. Soukup said she had not consumed alcohol and denied having any identification. After she eventually provided her license, police determined it was suspended.

Upon learning she was going to be arrested, Soukup punched a deputy twice in the chest. After deputies put handcuffs on her, she kicked them, striking one of the deputies in the groin. While en route to jail, she screamed obscenities and yelled and kicked at the metal divider behind the driver’s seat of the patrol car.

In another incident, in July 2012, Soukup was found unconscious in her home after one of her 6-year-old sons called 911. She admitted to being drunk, was believed to have been unconscious for 45 minutes and had left the oven on. After being placed under arrest, she was belligerent, aggressive, attempted to kick out the windows of the patrol car and threatened officers by saying she was a lawyer.

In mitigation, she was misdiagnosed and given medication that triggers manic behavior in persons with bipolar disorder. (Mike Frisch)