The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Texas county official was reportedly found asleep inside a vehicle that was stopped in the middle of a highway lane before being arrested on a DUI charge over the weekend.
The incident reportedly happened shortly after 1:30 a.m. in Galveston County when the authorities located a vehicle parked in the left lane of a highway in Texas City. According to a probable cause affidavit, an officer approached the driver’s side, opened the door, and removed the keys from the ignition before waking the driver.
Court documents stated the woman allegedly appeared confused and told the officer she believed she was in Houston and heading to a conference in Galveston. The affidavit also reportedly stated that she claimed she was “in heaven” when the officer first made contact with her.
The authorities allegedly noticed the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle and instructed the woman to step outside. According to the affidavit, she admitted to drinking two glasses of wine earlier in the evening. The officer reportedly observed that she was swaying and having trouble standing while outside the vehicle.
The woman allegedly declined to participate in field sobriety testing. She was taken into custody and later released from the Galveston County Jail after posting bond.
Her attorney reportedly denied that she committed any criminal offense and said the defense planned to review evidence connected to the case.
The arrest came after other recent legal issues involving the same official. Last year, prosecutors accused her of entering another person’s vehicle in a restaurant parking lot with the intent to commit theft, though a grand jury later declined to indict her. She had also previously faced another DWI allegation in 2023 that was eventually dismissed after completion of a pretrial diversion program.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a DUI offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.