COD Trustee Rubén Pérez pleads guilty to DUI charges

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - College of the Desert trustee Rubén AríAztlán Pérez pleaded guilty to DUI charges earlier this week and received 60 months of probation.

Pérez, 33, reached a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. On Monday, he pled guilty to Driving Under the Influence BAC .08 or Higher and an open container while driving. Two others were dismissed in the interest of justice. He also admitted to his prior DUI case.

He was granted probation for 60 months and ordered to complete the Impaired Drivers Program.

Perez was arrested shortly after midnight on May 25 in Palm Desert. Details of the arrest were not publicly available.

It was Perez's second DUI arrest. His first arrest came in February 2023 in La Quinta. A year later, he pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to four days in custody, which he would serve under a work release program. He was also sentenced to 36 months of summary probation. Probation terms include enrolling in and satisfactorily completing a first-offender DUI program for nine months, which had to be completed by June 18, 2025.

Shortly after his most recent arrest, Perez announced he was taking a leave of absence to address alcoholism and depression. He recently returned to his position, and last week, he issued a public apology during the Board of Trustees' meeting.

"Over the past few months, I've had to overcome some of my own mistakes and shortcomings. I don't pretend to have everything figured out; I'm still learning, I'm still growing, and I'm still working every day to become a better person and a better public servant," Perez said during the Aug. 21 meeting.

Perez continued, "I've also learned to firsthand how important mental health, recovery, accountability, and grace can be. There are people through our community who are struggling quietly with addiction, mental health challenges, grief, or circumstances that the rest of us may know nothing about. I hope we continue building a college where we people know that asking for help is a sign of courage. Where a mistake doesn't have to define yours or someone's life. Where second or even third chances can lead to something meaningful.

The trustee is set to return for another four-year term as he is running unopposed to represent Area 1 on the November ballot.

"I am incredibly humbled by the trust you have placed in me over the years. Running unopposed is something I don't take for granted. To me, it isn't something to become comfortable; it is an even greater responsibility to earn that trust every single day. I know I haven't always gotten everything right. When I have fallen short, I've tried to own it, learn from it, and do better. I will continue doing that. Serving this community and College of the Desert has been one of the greatest honors of my life.

Perez is the son of Riverside County District 4 Supervisor Manuel Pérez.