Mark Wayne Hewlett, Drunk Off-Duty Deputy Who Crashed Into Supervisor Bill Campbell's Planter, Avoids Jail Sentence

​We told you in March about the DUI charge brought against Orange County sheriff's deputy Mark Wayne Hewlett, who got drunk while off duty, lost control of his personal vehicle and crashed into a planter in the front yard of Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell's Villa Park home.

Hewlett can at least drink to this: prosecutors were originally seeking a one-year jail sentence, but the 30-year-old Orange resident instead got probation.

​He consumed several alcoholic beverages at a friend's house before driving home in the early morning hours of Dec. 13, 2009.

At about 1:45 a.m., Hewlett's car went up over the curb and across the grass in front of Campbell's home. A teen-ager driving by saw the spectacle and contacted his father, who called 9-1-1.

When police arrived, Hewlett had a strong odor of alcohol, watery eyes and a lack of balance. His blood alcohol level of .13 percent at 3:30 a.m., an hour and 45 minutes after the crash.

Hewlett also had Xanax on him, but no prescription for the anti-depressant.

He pleaded guilty yesterday to a court offer to one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood alcohol level over .08 percent, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

His sentence was the mandatory minimum terms for the driving under the influence conviction, which includes being ordered to pay restitution and attend mandatory drug and alcohol rehabilitation classes.

If Hewlett successfully completes drug diversion classes, his misdemeanor for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription will be dismissed.