Posted on 11/25/2012 10:36:04 PM PST by Slings and Arrows
Comal County, Tex. (CBS HOUSTON) – A Guadalupe County man arrested for his eighth DWI has been sentenced to life in prison after being pulled over last February with a Blood Alcohol level equivalent to consuming 23.5 beers.
In late February, authorities say Cornelio Garcia-Mata was driving nearly six times the legal alcohol limit, when he was pulled over around 6 p.m. off Interstate 35 in New Braunfels, WOAI-TV reports. Garcia-Mata got his first DWI in 1990. While on probation, he picked up his second. Since he’s a habitual offender he faced 25 years to life in prison for his latest offense.
“Subsequent blood tests shows that his blood alcohol was .446,” Comal County Chief Felony Prosecutor, Sammy McCrary told the court, according to WOAI. “It was a good verdict for the community. That’s somebody we won’t have to worry about killing somebody.”
In a video posted on YouTube from Feb. 26, 2012, an officer’s dashboard camera shows Garcia-Mata swerving in his truck before being pulled over on suspicion of intoxication. “How much alcohol have you been drinking today?” asks the officer. “I’m not drinking,” Garcia-Mata replied in slurred speech.
Prosecutors said his blood-alcohol level was five times the legal limit.
He has been held since then at the Comal County Jail without bond after a hold was placed on his release by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He was indicted in May, arraigned in June, and went to trial on Tuesday last week in front of a Comal County jury. They later returned a guilty verdict and a finding that Garcia-Mata’s vehicle was a deadly weapon because of his previous felony DWI convictions.
What would normally be a third degree felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison, became a 1st degree felony with a possible sentence of 25 years to life, KGNB Radio reported. After deliberating for only 20 minutes, the jury returned with the maximum penalty: life in prison.
In 2008, Garcia-Mata served less than two years of a six-year sentence, McCrary told WOAI. Garcia-Mata had seven prior DWI convictions out of Guadalupe County, which included felony charges. Garcia-Mata now awaits transfer into the state prison system.
Garcia-Mata will be eligible for parole in 30 years – when he is 75 years old.
On the other hand, *CENSORED* him - it's a miracle he didn't kill anyone.
On the other-other hand, this famous Heinlein quote about stupidity would seem to apply:
"Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation. Stupidity is not a sin, the victim can't help being stupid. But stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death, there is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity."
I can tell you from first hand experience that when you have drank to much you don’t think very well!!! Sometimes you can’t remember what you did.... i don’t think we need to fill our jails with drunks. After they hurt or kill someone then throw the book at them!!! if this guy has a wife and kids guess what were probably taking care of them!!!
the man is not stupid he is an out and out alike....his obsession feeds his allergy which drives his obsession....he may be of the hopeless variety
I'm surprised he's not dead.
0.40 BAC and up: Onset of coma, and possible death due to respiratory arrest.
Alcoholics can build up amazing tolerances; IIRC, 60gunner mentioned seeing BACs in the 0.600-0.700’s as an ER nurse.
No pity. I am sorry he is an alcoholic, but he could have given up his license, his car, and gotten drunk at home after the first half-dozen DUIs. Plenty of people walk to the liquor store.
So who is volunteering to be killed by this guy, so that we can throw the book at him?
I am not divided about this at all. If he is released on parole at the age of 75, he will again be a danger to the community. He will drink and drive as soon as he gets a chance.
I do not see the sentence as a punishment for the driver, I see it as the only way, short of execution, the community can protect itself against the driver.
My friend never got to have a tax paying family because of a jerk off like this guy. Why wait until he kills another person like my friend ... a golfer, an air force academy student ... a person you might have liked. Another life cut short by open borders (the perp was an illegal that slipped back across the border or changed his identity).
In Norway, after your second DUI within five years they take away your license, your car, and no one in your family can own a car lest you borrow it.
Found the following on the net, so better to be a drunk driver in Norway than Bulgaria: A second conviction results in execution.
Which is better than El Salvador: Your first offense is your last-—execution by firing squad.
The “looney bin” would be the usual place someone who was feared to be dangerous but had not committed a crime for which he would be punished, or had served its sentence, would be sent. Something like habitual drunk driving likely falls into that category. The person, once drunk, simply forgets all sense and becomes dangerous. This, modulo today’s stricter standards for being too intoxicated to legally drive. A number of marginal technical offenses shouldn’t necessarily be treated as harshly as those deep into the juice.
I am not divided about this at all. If he is released on parole at the age of 75, he will again be a danger to the community. He will drink and drive as soon as he gets a chance.
He probably already done enough damage to his liver that he won't make it to 75.
A friend of mine’s daughter was arrested fourteen times for DUI, never spent more than a few days in jail, then finally six months in a half way house so she could continue working.
She was sober for about six months after that, then moved to another state (from California) and no one heard from her again (been twenty five years).
I agree, there are people once who get carp thrown at them and then others who go on and on and on........with little to nothing
He=He’s
he won’t serve life but he’ll sure be on the wagon for a while. Probably the best thing that could happen to him and his family.
Yup, and his pancake turnstyle and elephant noodling stick is gone WAY frankle!
“After they hurt or kill someone then throw the book at them!!!”
A stupid cow was too drunk to hit the brakes in time so that my dear friend wouldn’t wind up under her van, breaking his neck.
She sued his widow for everything she had for “emotional trauma”..and won.
She’s alive and rich.
Your logic is deeply flawed.
I have no problem with this sentence. Just make it with no possibility for parole and the whole state is safer. I almost lost my brother over one of these idiots.
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