Former chief Carson DA arrested for drunken driving

The former chief deputy district attorney for Carson City was arrested Monday in Reno on a charge of drunken driving.

Anne Langer, 51, was booked into the Washoe County Jail after her 8:33 p.m. arrest in South Reno.

According to Sgt. Dave Macaulay of the Reno Police Department, a witness reported seeing Langer exit the Atlantis Hotel and Casino about 7:45 p.m. on Monday and suspected she was intoxicated by the way she was walking.

Langer then allegedly got into her vehicle and struck the trailer hitch of another vehicle as she backed out of the parking space.

Macaulay said the witness followed Langer and called police.

Officers stopped her vehicle at Kietzke and Hammill lanes.

Macaulay said the arrest report indicates Langer failed three field sobriety tests, and a preliminary breath test registered a .210 blood-alcohol level, nearly three times the legal limit of .08.

Langer was booked into the Washoe County Jail on suspicion of drunken driving about 9:30 p.m. and was released on her own recognizance some hours later.

Macaulay said officers were unable to locate the vehicle that the witness alleged Langer struck in the Atlantis parking lot.

Langer, who worked for the district attorney's office for 17 years, left the office on Jan. 31.

She ran for Storey County District Attorney in the November election, losing to incumbent Harold Swafford by 37 votes.

"I had a lot of disappointments this year, and I was coping with the use of alcohol," Langer said Wednesday.

"I obviously have a problem, and it needs to be addressed. I made a mistake," she said.

Langer's attorney Scott Freeman said his client intends to accept responsibility for her actions.

"Everything is a learning experience," he said.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.