Bond denied for karate teacher accused of driving drunk

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WTVR) -- A Chesterfield County judge denied bond Wednesday for the woman arrested for DUI while driving a van carrying seven children.

Kristina Mangrum  is charged with driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level above .20.

According to arrest warrants filed Tuesday, Chesterfield police officers saw the van Mangrum was driving swerve out of her lane on three separate occasions.

After pulling Mangrum over, the officer said she failed a field sobriety test and blew a .30 BAC, nearly four times the legal limit, on a breathalyzer.

Seven children were in the van with Mangrum, according to police. She was transporting them to a summer camp at a martial arts studio in Brandermill.

A woman who saw Mangrum driving on Rt. 360 said she was
"literally shaking" when she saw how badly the van was swerving, according to arrest warrants.

Mangrum was assigned an attorney in court Wednesday.  Stephen Armstrong will represent the 34-year-old and said he must speak with his client to discuss her options. Armstrong continued that it's important they investigate the facts of the case due to the extensive media coverage.

Mangrum will be held in Chesterfield County jail until a bond hearing can be set.  She is scheduled to face the DWI charge on Aug. 20.

Mangrum also faces seven counts of child endangerment in Juvenile-Domestic Relations Court in connection to the incident.

William Gross, CEO of Martial Arts World, in Brandermill and Amelia County says Kristina Mangrum worked at the Amelia location for two years.  She went through a background check and he said her DMV record was clean before she was hired.

“Don’t really know how to put it into words.  It’s really surprised me quite a bit,” said Gross about the charges.

Gross says he’s never witnessed Mangrum being impaired behind the wheel:

“I’ve worked with her for a long time and she didn’t portray anything like that with me.  And so, it’s very upsetting to me.”

“She needs help.  So, I’m sorry for her.  I’m sorry for the parents.  I’m sorry that we’re going through this.”

Gross said he doesn’t support or condone this type of behavior.

“I mean the safety of our children is the utmost importance to me.  I mean this is why I do this.  I do this for the children because I want to make a difference in their lives.  This is a very unfortunate mistake.”

What lesson did he learn from this situation?

“Be more proactive with my Instructors I think.  Let them know, they can come to me if they have a problem.”