FIVE SENTENCED IN 21st DISTRICT COURT
A Corpus Christi man has been sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to Felony Driving While Intoxicated.
59-year old Eddie Jones of Corpus Christi was arrested back on November 16th for Third Offense DWI – a Third Degree Felony.
Jones was also ordered to pay $100 to the EMS Trauma Fund.
Also sentenced by Judge Carson Campbell in 21st District Court were:
31-year old Leonard Crawford Jr. of Houston, was sentenced to six months in the Washington Co. Jail for Evading arrest with a Previous Conviction.
20-year old Tony Searcy of Brenham was placed on six years’ probation and fined $500 for Burglary of a Habitation.
48-year old Adrian James Bennett of Brenham was placed on eight years’ probation and fined $1500 for Third Offense DWI. Bennett must also perform 250 hours of community service and have an interlocking device installed on his vehicle.
And, 22-year old Charles Foster was place on three years’ probation for Theft between $1500 and $20,000. Foster was also ordered to make over $2,000 in restitution and perform 100 hours of community service.
One last thing. When a person is arrested for a third DWI or any subsequent offense (4,5,6,etc…) they are charged with DWI Third offense or more. It is possible the person from Brenham only had 3 DWI’s and the person from Corpus Christi was on his 5th or 6th DWI. Based on the way the article was reported and written there is no way to tell how many DWI’s each person actually had.
Info being provided is not correct. When a Judge orders an interlock device for a DWI it is for ALL vehicles in the persons family not just the one that is usually driven. It is true that if a persons wants to defeat the Interlock device he or she can have someone else blow into it. If this occurs and the court finds out or the person is arrested for DWI in a vehicle with an interlock device it will violate the probation and that person will go to prison. Washington County is actually doing a great job with getting habitual drunk driver’s off the road. In some other larger counties (Harris, Travis, etc…) I have personally seen people with 10 plus DWI convictions on the road driving while intoxicated.
Correct Info. . this is not true on the interlock device. I sadly have faced this problem with a family member and it was only put on the vehicle they drove. It was not ordered or even asked what other vehicle were available to them. I can tell you I would of fought tooth and nail had they tried to put on my other vehicle because I nor other family members the ones charged with the crime. . but again I would not have allowed that person to drive it either.
I am a little puzzled. . there are 2 people listed with 3rd DWI . . one gets probation and one get 2 year prison term. . what makes the cases different?? . . . shouldn’t they have the same punishment??
Not necessarily. Anyone in the criminal justice system will tell you no 2 cases are the same. That’s why the Legislature created punishment RANGES.
Maybe one could be helped with some treatment? Maybe the guy who got probation was only barely over the legal limit, or the cop has moved and can’t testify… who knows.
This information was taken from:
http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/traffic/safety/sober-safe/intoxication.html
Punishment for DWI varies depending on the number of convictions:
First Offense
•A fine of up to $2,000
•Three days to 180 days in jail
•Loss of driver license up to a year
•Annual fee of $1,000 or $2,000 for three years to retain driver license
Second Offense*
•A fine of up to $4,000
•One month to a year in jail
•Loss of driver license up to two years
•Annual fee of $1,000, $1,500 or $2,000 for three years to retain driver license
Third Offense*
•A $10,000 fine
•Two to 10 years in prison
•Loss of driver license up to two years
•Annual fee of $1,000, $1,500, or $2,000 for three years to retain driver license
Note: Keep in mind that Texas has no “lookback” period — the time during which a previous charge may be counted in your total number of DUIs. That is, even if your first DUI was 25 years ago, it will still count as a prior offense.
So I guess. they got the jail time in !
Probation nets the county and state more money, period. The fees associated with probated sentences can amount to continous flow of dollars. Some time ago, community service was actually performed, but not any more, it is meaningless. It is all about the money, and we need to pay for the new justice center.
Seems like everyone gets probation, no matter the crime. Glad I no longer live in Washington County, where criminals are let off the hook to continue preying on innocent citizens. This, people, is a prime example of why people have firearms in their homes- to protect themselves, their families, and their hard earned belongings.
“31-year old Leonard Crawford Jr. of Houston, was sentenced to six months in the Washington Co. Jail for Evading arrest with a Previous Conviction.”
There’s one right there that didn’t get probation.
If you’ve read any of the releases in the last 3 years from the law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney, you surely know it’s not a good time to be a criminal in Washington County. More people around here are being arrested, charged, prosecuted, and incarcerated than any time in recent history.
If you’re keeping a gun at home to protect you from the drunks on the road, you’re doing it wrong.
The DA, County Attorney, Sheriff, and District Judges are all running unopposed this year… must be doing something right.
Oh, sorry- I guess a gun in one’s home won’t do any good for keeping a repeated drunk driver from killing someone. THAT’S THE COURT’S JOB.
3 DWI’s and the man gets probation? And we wonder why innocent people get killed by these drunk drivers!
My thoughts, exactly!
I read it incorrectly to at first HE DID get Jail time 2 years! read below on my comments
The 1st man got 2 years of jail time for a 3rd DWI. The man from Brenham got probation for his 3rd DWI and also a interlocking deivice on his vehicle which means he must still have a drivers license. What prevents him from driving drunk in another vehicle? They both need jail time for a lot longer than 2 years!
exactly the interlock device is only set up for one vehicle. . he/she can drive any other vehicle if other people are willing to lend it out or they just have someone breathe into device for them. . not a sure way to keep drunks off the road. . if the 1st and 2nd DWI didn’t stop them this one won’t either. . just hope the next one does not result in a death of an innocent person(s). Julia only one of them got jail time I understand the report you added but it does not match what happen here. . 1 jail time other probation. .