Dad Defensive on Letting Kid, 9, Drive

In this season of holiday -- some of it and liquid form it's a good idea to have a designated driver. But a father who gave that job to his nine year old propped up in a booster seat no less had a lot... See More

In this season of holiday -- some of it and liquid form it's a good idea to have a designated driver. But a father who gave that job to his nine year old propped up in a booster seat no less had a lot of us thinking come along and but this was no laughing matter Jim Avalon has the story and -- exclusive interview. It's been a national sensation. Viral on you to the ultimate in a rental bad judgment hey. It stands facing serious charges -- -- -- a nine year old girl at the wheel while her father. Lit up on whiskey eggs Iran -- the passenger seat just nine years old and since the world first watch. When the -- of his everyone has wanted to ask the dad. Loves it 39 year old son wind. What -- you think. I wasn't drinking this will never let them. I can use after months of avoiding every question why -- agreed to sit down with 22 -- But it wasn't easy for the man vilified as bad -- of the deck here you go through with. This is a list of and he walked out of the interview more than once. But finally sat down to try and redeem himself. It's 2:30 in the morning constitutional -- my circle and do you feel that she was. In control of the car auctions on back up parallel parks -- to break the panel. -- story begins on the outskirts of Detroit in the wee hours of October rate during a custodial visit with his little girl. He was downing black velvet whiskey when he posed a fateful. Question and after she wanted to learn to drive she says yes. We got in the car drove -- -- 45 minutes -- Who goes where I guess. For the -- That's why -- stars -- -- -- red and white van pulling into the gas station this little girl behind the -- What would John Weinberg did not realize in his drunken stupor. As he pumped gas. And then brought his daughter inside device -- -- -- -- candy apple for her. Wasn't he was being watched. By forty surveillance cameras rolling on his every move his every war. You're pretty proud that your daughter could drive. I was more -- less bright and I don't know how -- she was doing and anything. And com -- -- 911 producer shape but the bragging NY neighbors and dance out the door caused jaws to drop. A sober bystander would take it upon himself to alert authorities to this minor minutes on the road. Certain China Iran and Syria Yemen and Eritrea and yeah. Driver -- soon police arrived justice John and his daughter were about to reach home. And what -- they find a little girl sitting on a booster seat sore hands could reach the steering we also. Ask her. You know what are you doing -- responded the officer what are you stopping me for I was driving good how does -- see over the dashboard others she. Reach the pedals Pennsylvanian is due to chair a loyal she's right there today at dramas -- -- video hit the local news before police Siemens saw. You cannot tell me there's good judgment that you are intact -- on the passenger side. They and letting your nine year old trial drive back -- two story house fires. Shocking admission overnight -- -- became the national poster boy for bad parity sprint has of people like you it's terrible. The lights the cameras. The people. After listening in my house because I don't want to see nobody. Prosecutors would drop the hammer charging shine with two counts of child abuse it's not child abuse. We -- -- -- -- -- are from my house number 125 miles an hour. Share your seatbelts on. -- -- spent my daughter she's. We'll never do anything and anyway -- But the prosecution was serious. Asking for twenty years at this evidentiary hearing they -- son's daughter in to testify against him. Did not -- and we have. That Examiner's. The little girl was nervous and crying on the stand. -- -- -- -- How difficult was it as a father when she had to testify. To is terrible. Comptroller of the things we are and I can just take -- out -- that room. Weinberg contends no matter how much she tries to explain that night he can't seem to get past all the bad press him. I'm not a bad father my daughters and let matters. And to this day -- defends teaching his daughter how to drive. He says he too was taught to drive at a very young age why should his daughter be treated any differently -- -- between two acre -- -- -- are currently Kirkuk. Clearly there are plenty of parents who think there's nothing wrong with teaching their underage children how to drive. Keeping it up public streets to avoid trouble. -- -- -- Proud enough that junior is behind the -- they post videos on YouTube for millions to see. Everyone joking on this video about the two Brothers nine in seven years old maneuvering through a junkyard. And don't let the gas. This case had not been. YouTube. We probably wouldn't be sitting here. Climbers attorneys David Stein golden -- Adler argue the prosecution. Is trying to make an example of their -- That's a good father who made a very bad choice they say many parents are prone to let their children experiment behind the wheel of the car. But should not be treated as serious criminal. Putting young people behind motor vehicles is not unusual. It wasn't likely that this particular girl was going to. Hurt herself in if this had simply preceded another hundred -- she would have been safely at home probably tucked in bed. Just this week. Why -- attorneys struck a deal with the prosecution. Yes -- reluctantly pled guilty to two counts of child abuse. In exchange he will get probation and avoid going to jail. So for now the toughest part of the sentence is that he can't see his daughter unsupervised. Attacks is never gave us as I was -- -- was here. Promotional alone tonight why members agreed to Wear a tethered to monitor his sobriety he says he's been attending alcoholics anonymous meeting. And now you are not trekking right now and why did you -- only -- daughter's life. And you knew you couldn't do you could be kept drinking I'm just saying that alcohol is -- -- in my life. It appears even this good ol' country boy -- learned a hard lesson this holiday season. You have a Christmas swift punitive time machine to a record time -- what do you hope it happens now. Besides me go away. -- --