Visit Fort Bragg Committee Member Convicted by Jury of Drug-Related DUI
Ryan Ballou describes "crazy night" in a Facebook post
Ryan Ballou, a member of the Visit Fort Bragg Committee, was convicted by a jury on May 13 of driving under the influence, a misdemeanor. A prominent local Facebook influencer, Ballou is known for producing upbeat videos about things to do in Mendocino County.
According to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office, Ballou, 50, was arrested in December 2025 on charges of driving under the combined influence of clonazepam and THC.
The agencies involved in the investigation included the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and the California Department of Justice forensic crime laboratory.
After receiving communications from MendoLocal.News, Ballou posted a statement on Facebook describing his version of events surrounding the arrest. He labeled his post “press release!” And he stated he would not be “accepting interviews at this time.”
“December 3rd after years of a silent divorce my marriage ended suddenly in one night,” Ballou wrote. “I wrecked my car after packing and leaving. Brought it home haphazardly at best.”
Ballou said law enforcement officers initially responded believing the incident may have involved domestic violence, but “quickly realized it was not.” He described the subsequent investigation as shifting toward a suspected drug DUI.
Ballou wrote that he agreed to perform field sobriety tests and later submitted to a blood test. He stated that he contested the charge at trial but was ultimately convicted.
“I do not condone my behavior, but it’s not illegal to be upset, wreck a car or be in duress with your partner,” Ballou wrote. “Was a crazy night, my life as well as my families [sic] life forever changed that day.”
According to the District Attorney’s Office, clonazepam is a benzodiazepine that depresses the central nervous system and may cause drowsiness, impaired thinking, impaired coordination, and vision problems, even when taken as prescribed.
The DA’s Office stated that tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, can impair driving by slowing reaction times, decreasing coordination, and distorting judgment.