Jury Convicts Santa Maria Man of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Author: District Attorney
Date: 10/22/2026 7:25 PM

District Attorney Dan Dow announces that a jury convicted Michael Anthony Calderon of Santa Maria of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol, and that he was sentenced immediately after the verdict.

---

District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury found Michael Anthony Calderon (DOB 06/30/1994) of Santa Maria guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor violation of Vehicle Code section 23152(a). The jury returned its verdict this afternoon, and Calderon was sentenced the same day.

"Driving under the influence is a crime that puts every person on our roads at risk," said District Attorney Dan Dow. "I thank these jurors for their careful attention and I thank the California Highway Patrol officers who recognized the danger and took this impaired driver off Highway 101 before anyone was hurt. This verdict is also an important reminder: you do not have to reach a 0.08 percent blood alcohol level to be guilty of DUI. If alcohol impairs your ability to drive safely, you are breaking the law. Plan ahead, hand over your keys, and get a sober ride home."

Following a nine-day trial, the jury found Calderon guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol. Before jury selection, the court granted the People's motion to dismiss a second count alleging that Calderon drove with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher. The jury began deliberating on October 21 and returned its verdict on October 22.

The evidence showed that at approximately 1:08 a.m. on June 8, 2024, California Highway Patrol officers saw a white BMW traveling northbound on US-101 just south of Los Berros Road at an unusually slow and unsafe speed. Radar confirmed the car's speed at 42 miles per hour, and the driver was weaving within the lane.

Officers stopped the car and contacted the driver, Calderon. While speaking with him, CHP Officer Karlene Villars detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle. During the DUI investigation that followed, Officer Villars noted the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Calderon's breath and person, red and watery eyes, and slow, slurred speech. Throughout the investigation, Calderon denied having any alcohol that night or in the days before the stop.

Calderon showed signs of impairment on each of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests he performed. Based on his driving and his performance on those tests, he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. A chemical breath test taken approximately 20 minutes after the stop showed a blood alcohol content of 0.079 and 0.077 percent. A later search of the car found an empty tequila bottle under the driver's seat and multiple beer cans in the vehicle.

Witnesses called by the prosecution included CHP Officers Karlene Villars and Dylan Mota and San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office Forensic Toxicologist Lauren Lewis. The defense called Ed Barley, whom the court recognized as an expert on field sobriety testing and the Dräger breath-testing instrument.

A first-offense conviction for driving under the influence carries a maximum sentence of six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000, plus penalty assessments. Calderon was sentenced immediately following the verdict in Department 7 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Erin M. Childs presiding. He was placed on probation and will serve two days in County jail. The court also gave Calderon the advisement required by law that driving under the influence is extremely dangerous to human life, and that if he drives under the influence again and someone is killed as a result, he can be charged with murder.

This case was investigated by the California Highway Patrol, with Officers Karlene Villars, Dylan Mota, and Frank Barajas. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Danielle Baker. Witness coordination services were provided by Witness Coordinator Eloiza Basinger of the District Attorney's Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center.

Here is a copy of the charging document.

Members of the media may contact Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at 805-781-5819 for additional information.