Motorists in the state of Texas who are convicted of multiple DWI offenses face particularly significant penalties. A judge in Montgomery recently sentenced a motorist to life in prison after the he was charged with his ninth DWI offense since 1980. The charge in question resulted from an event in which the motorist drifted into a lane of oncoming traffic while turning at a stop sign and nearly struck another motor vehicle. After the collision, the motorist asked a nearby convenience store owner to help hide him. The motorist proceeded to plead guilty to the offense, which quickly resulted in the man receiving the sentence of life in prison. This conviction does not mark the first time that the motorist in question has been sentenced to prison. The motorist has previously been sentenced to prison four times due to DWI related offenses. Because multiple driving while intoxicated charges can result in individuals facing stiffer penalties, it is particularly important for motorists to understand some of the relevant law about these charges.
Penalties of a Third or Subsequent DWI Charge
Four teenagers were recently arrested after robbing a man in Denton. Denton law enforcement responded to the scene of a reported robbery and upon an arrival were informed by a witness that fours men had hit, kicked, and then robbed another man of his wallet and backpack. Law enforcement immediately began to search the area for the four men and eventually found them in a wooded area near a Home Depot store. Law enforcement also found the victim’s wallet. Upon being questioned by law enforcement, the men admitted to the robbery. All four were eventually charged with engaging in an organized criminal activity and placed in the Denton City Jail on a $50,000 bond.
In Denton County and the rest of the state of Texas, an individual can be arrested for engaging in organized criminal activity if law enforcement alleges that the individual acted together with other individuals to commit one of many different types of crimes. It should be noted that while there are both federal and state charges concerning engaging in an organized criminal activity, this article will focus on only Texas state charges related to engaging in organized criminal activity.
Applicable Texas Law