Posted on 07/31/2026 7:15:39 PM PDT by xxqqzz
A serial drunk driver has been sentenced to 50 years behind bars after he was caught driving under the influence for the fifth time.
A Texas jury last week found Eugenio Les Zavala, 34, guilty of driving drunk in Montgomery County on February 17, 2025, according to court records obtained by the Daily Mail.
Zavala was arrested and charged last year following a traffic stop conducted by Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies, the district attorney's office said.
During the investigation, Zavala refused to exit his vehicle, became 'argumentative,' and 'physically resisted' officers.
His eyes were glossy, speech was slurred, and his breath smelled of alcohol, deputies reported. Investigators also found two beers inside his vehicle.
Zavala, who was alone in the vehicle, refused to be breathalyzed, undergo a field sobriety test, or participate in a blood draw to calculate his blood alcohol concentration (BAC), prosecutors said.
A search warrant was issued for the blood test, which prosecutors say revealed that Zavala had a BAC of 0.15 - nearly twice the legal limit.
Prosecutors told the court how this was Zavala's fifth DWI offense, which they alleged proved he was a habitual felony offender, court records show.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...
There was a story about some black guy who punched his court appointed lawyer after pleading guilty to murder of a rival drug dealer, and getting 50 years, maybe more than he would expect a jury would have given if it went to trial.
The defendant in this drunk driving case represented himself, which is usually a good way to get a really long sentence. The prosecution can get away with anything with no one with expertise defending, and it antagonizes the prosecutor, judge, and jury.
20+ years ago, people would be convicted of their 20th or whatever DWI, but that doesn't happen any more.
Folks still hit double digit convictions in New Mexico and don’t get serious time.
50 years behind bars is not necessarily a humongous amount of time, if the prisoner is eligible for parole halfway through or even less. We will see what happens here.
Only takes 3 in Georgia, but the state has to suspend the license and not give it back to make the felony stick.
Used to drive around Texas with an open beer. It got hot. Back in the day.
In Michigan 3rd or higher conviction is a felony.
CC
I remember when 3 would put you in a Texas prison for a long time? 4 chances? One of my childhood friends was killed by a drunk driver. I have zero remorse for this fool
Seems like take his license first. If he was driving drunk without a valid license, then the sentence might be appropriate. The articles don’t say that. He also had a felony conviction for assault, as well as drunk driving.
Force take a lung, kidney, and liver lobe to help others.
I had relatives hit by a drunk driver. One was in a coma and lost legs.
I want these people to pay bigly.
Only caught drunk driving 5 times? Hey, that’s nothing compared to a lot of those latinos. Especially the illegal ones.
North of the Mason-Dixon he would be labelled a “problem drinker” and face a similar sentence because the statistics demonstrate that problem drinkers are responsible for a disproportionate number of DUI crashes.
Not how it works in Texas. Long prison terms (think it’s 5 or 10 years) are not eligible for reduction.
I think this article came from a “serial drink speller”!
I’m only a summer visitor, but I’m appalled to read of the multi-light sentences handed out to serial drunk drivers in New Hampshire.
It’s probably a good thing that the roads follow curvy 18th century horse and buggy pathways. One blurry moment and you’re stopped by a tree!
Drink driver is standard in British English vs drunk driver in American English. The Daily Mail is a British publication.
A self-correcting problem.
Even after the years we’ve lived here, I still am appalled by the number of motorcyclists who wear no helmet.
I watch police cam videos on occasion (like Midwest Safety the best) and light sentences are not unusual.
Drunk driving too often results in fatalities, and it’s almost never the drunk driver. And they get off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist after destroying someone else’s life. Our *justice* system is so broke.
It’s good to see that someone FINALLY made the right decision.
I dont know about this... 50 years?
Honestly, I can see 2 or 3 but 50? thats a little tough. He didnt kill anyone. he’s just a drunkard...
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