Former Kern DA Jagels pleads not guilty to DUI

Former Kern County District Attorney Ed Jagels pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence on Tuesday. 

While Jagels did not attend his arraignment on Tuesday, per a report from the Bakersfield Californian, his attorney entered the not guilty plea to two misdemeanor counts, which included enhancements for his blood-alcohol levels. 

Driving the news: Bakersfield police arrested Jagels, 77, on June 1 on the 6000 block of Stockdale Highway. 

Per the police report, Jagels veered his 2018 Model X Tesla into the median around 4:35 p.m. 

Officers pulled Jagels over and observed slurred speech and other signs that he was under the influence of alcohol. 

Jagels’s blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.153%, which is nearly double the legal limit. 

State of play: Jagels is the longest-serving district attorney in Kern County history. 

He was first elected in 1982 and served until his retirement in 2010. 

Due to his close relationship with District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office is handling the case.