Lili Estefan and Raúl de Molina have spoken out following the arrest of their colleague Juan Espinosa, better known as "Carlitos, the producer." Around 2:20 a.m. on Sunday, May 18, Espinosa was arrested for allegedly driving 190 km/h while under the influence, with his two young children in the car.
After the news made waves on social media, the hosts of the Univision show addressed the situation. Given that Carlitos is a longtime member of their team, they felt they couldn’t stay silent.
Live on air, Raúl and Lili said that Carlitos would speak on the matter when the time was right. For now, they added, they wouldn't be commenting further. According to Las Top News, the producer was present during Tuesday’s broadcast.
What charges is 'Carlitos, the producer' facing?
Thomas Jenkinson, the officer who pulled Espinosa over, reported smelling alcohol coming from the vehicle. At the time, the El Gordo y La Flaca producer was traveling with his wife and their two young children. His wife was in the front passenger seat, and the kids—who were asleep—were in the back.
Given the circumstances, Espinosa is facing charges of DUI (driving under the influence) and child neglect.
According to the official report, Espinosa is facing a $6,500 fine for charges of child neglect without physical harm and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Details of the arrest: What really happened
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office shared more on the arrest, noting that once Officer Jenkinson pulled behind the speeding vehicle, it quickly came to a stop in the center median.
“When the officer approached the driver and began speaking with him, he noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from the car,” the post read. “But that wasn’t the biggest surprise—the real shock came when he saw Espinosa’s wife in the front passenger seat and then spotted a 1-year-old and an 8-year-old sleeping in the back.”
Espinosa was showing clear signs of driving under the influence, so officers asked him to perform field sobriety tests and provide a breath sample to determine his blood alcohol level.
The sheriff’s office confirmed the charges: driving under the influence and child neglect without serious physical harm.