October 18, 2011-According to reports an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence, while off duty.

According to authorities Orange County Sheriff’s deputy Mario Manuel Castro age 33 of Orange was charged Tuesday for driving under the influence of alcohol. Castro was stopped by police, according to prosecutors after being spotted driving on the wrong side of the road by an oncoming marked police cruiser.

Prosecutors said, Castro who was stopped on September 30th had a blood alcohol level of .24 after he was arrested, at approximately 2:00 a.m. in Orange. According to authorities Castro showed prevalent signs of intoxication, which included an unsteady balance and a strong odor of alcohol.

Castro who was off duty at the time had been drinking at a Costa Mesa bar, prosecutors have stated and has been charged with one misdemeanor account of driving under the influence with a prior conviction, one count of driving with a blood alcohol level of more than .08, with a prior conviction and a sentencing enhancement for having a blood alcohol level of over .15 percent.

Prosecutors stated that Castro had a prior conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2009 in Los Angeles. The off duty Orange County Sheriff’s deputy faces a maximum of one year in jail if convicted. Castro is scheduled to appear at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana on November 16th to be arraigned.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino, stated that Castro is on active duty pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation.

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