The Sonoma County District Attorney's office is defending one of its prosecutors, Stephen Hullinger, after details emerged about a 2018 DUI arrest in which he drove with his two young children in the car, had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, and made threatening statements to his 7-year-old son. The incident, which occurred on Highway 101 in Sonoma County, has resurfaced amid public attention, prompting the DA's office to release a statement emphasizing Hullinger's subsequent years of public service.
According to court records from the state bar, Hullinger was solely responsible for his 7-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter in May 2018 while his wife was out of the country. A sheriff's deputy pulled him over after observing him speeding, swerving, changing lanes repeatedly without signaling, and tailgating three vehicles, including a marked patrol car.
The deputy found Hullinger holding an open container of Four Loko, an alcoholic beverage, with his children in the back seat.
Hullinger's behavior escalated when he spoke belligerently to officers, refused to comply with orders, and attempted to leverage his status as a criminal defense attorney. He called an officer a "piece of shit" and told his crying 7-year-old, "Daddy's going to jail because of these dickheads," adding, "They'll take you and you'll go to a foster family and they'll raise you," causing the boy to "scream in terror." He refused a field sobriety test, stating, "I'm a criminal defense attorney, there's no way I'm doing your stupid FSTs," and physically resisted arrest until deputies forced him out of the car.
His blood alcohol level tested at 0.28%, more than three times the legal limit. Child Protective Services took custody of both children because no family members could be reached.
The DA's office acknowledged that Hullinger accepted responsibility for the incident and satisfied all legal and professional requirements. They noted he was publicly recognized for his work on behalf of sexual assault survivors at this year's Sexual Assault Awareness Month event at San Francisco Police Department headquarters.
Jenkins' office described Hullinger as "an exemplary prosecutor" who started in the domestic violence unit before moving to the child abuse and sexual assault unit, where he "has tirelessly and effectively fought for justice on behalf of victims of unspeakable crimes."
"It is disappointing that attention is being focused on an incident from nearly a decade ago rather than on the years of public service that have followed," the DA's office said in a statement. "We believe that record deserves at least as much attention as a fully resolved misdemeanor offense that predates his work in this office."