Updated below to include quotes from a Monday afternoon press conference at the Capitol.

A tearful Speaker Pro Tem Dan Pabon apologized Monday morning on the House floor for his DUI arrest last week and said he will “work tirelessly” to restore the confidence of his family, his colleagues and the community.

“I plan on wholeheartedly accepting the penalties that come from my actions,” the Denver Democrat said, his voice breaking and tears streaming down his face.

Pabon was pulled over at the corner of West Colfax Avenue and Glenarm Place by a Denver police officer just after 11:30 p.m. on the night of March 17 for an improper turn, police said. When he exhibited signs of intoxication, the officer performed a sobriety test and Pabon failed that, police said. The lawmaker requested that he undergo a blood alcohol test, was transported to Denver Health and later released.

The arresting officer also cited Pabon for having the wrong license plates on his car, which was supposed to display his legislative plates.

“As a legislator, I’ve worked to contain the damage that poor decisions, like the ones I made last week, have on our communities,” Pabon said Monday, addressing a silent House of Representatives. “It’s not lost on me that I have worked to pass laws with stiffer penalties for driving under the influence. There’s a law right now on the governor’s desk that will empower prosecutors and judges to use victim impact panels to bring those now, like me, who choose to drink and drive face-to-face with real-life victims of those bad choices. Today, needless to say, I believe in this legislation more than I did five days ago.”

Pabon was also a key supporter of a bill signed into law last year that created a felony DUI charge for those with at least four convictions for the offense.

“I will work tirelessly to restore your confidence in me,” Pabon said through tears. “I will never repeat this mistake, and I sincerely and truly apologize to my wife and kids, my family, and my colleagues and our community.”

As he stepped from the podium, legislative colleagues from both sides of the aisle rushed to embrace and console Pabon. Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, rushed to his side, offering him a hug. After a few seconds, Pabon returned to his desk where colleague after colleague from both sides of the aisle went over to console him.

House Democratic leadership plans to await the results of Pabon’s blood-alcohol test, which could take as long as two weeks, before determining how to handle the matter, sources close to leadership said.

Pabon is due in court for an arraignment on April 18.

At a news conference Monday afternoon, a less-emotional but plainly contrite Pabon reiterated that he was committed to embracing the negative consequences — personal, legal, political — of his arrest. But he also stated firmly that he intended to continue on as representative of his northwest Denver district.

“I would say (to my constituents) that I made a terrible mistake and that I’m going to accept the consequences — all of the consequences (brought) by my behavior,” he told reporters gathered in the House Majority spokesperson’s office at the Capitol. “(I would say) that I’m going to become, I think, a better person and a better legislator out of this experience, and that I’m going to focus on my work for the people of Colorado because that is what I was elected to do.”

Pabon will get his chance to speak directly with constituents this Saturday at the Denver County Democratic Assembly and Convention at the Bellco Theater.

Pabon said he had no plans to preemptively resign his leadership position in the House.

“Personally, I think I still have a lot of work to do for the people of Colorado, and that’s what I want to focus on … If the consequence of my conduct is having my leadership title removed, I will accept that,” he said.

He also said that he planned to attend the signing ceremony for the drunk-driving victims impact panel bill he sponsored this session, unless Mothers Against Drunk Driving — the group that worked with him on the bill — asks him not to attend.

“The bill signing should still take place because MADD worked really hard on this bill and deserves accolades and the credit for its passage,” he said.

Pabon told reporters that, over the course of a few hours on Thursday, he drank four or five beers. He said he attended a craft beer, wine and spirits event at the governor’s mansion and then went to dinner with friends at Sam’s No. 3 at Curtis Street and 15th Street.

He said he told House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst on Friday about the arrest.

Pabon, 38, is an attorney and was first elected to represent northwest Denver’s House District 4 in 2010. He played a key role establishing regulations to implement a regulatory framework for Amendment 64, the voter-approved legalization of recreational marijuana. He has sponsored a number of tough-on-crime bills during his tenure in the legislature including a bill passed this year, HB 16-1017, allowing courts to sentence people arrested for DUI to appear in person before a victim impact panel and pay a $50 fee.

Pabon was also the House sponsor of SB 14-125, a bill to allow ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft a legal framework to operate in Colorado.

— ernest@coloradostatesman.com

— ramsey@coloradostatesman.com