District Attorney’s Press Release
On Thursday, Sept. 12, a Henderson County jury sentenced Richard King Morris, 62, of Chandler, to life in the penitentiary for a September 2012 early afternoon DWI on FM 315 south of Chandler. Judge Mark Calhoon of the 3rd Judicial District Court presided over the trial. If you find yourself in a similar situation where you have been arrested for DWI (even if you are innocent or not), then you might want to check out a website like https://cannonlawtexas.com/ to see what can be done to help you.
Morris pleaded guilty to the court before a jury of seven women and five men were selected to hear evidence and assess a punishment. The sentence was handed down after two days of testimony and evidence presented by District Attorney Scott McKee and 1st Assistant District Attorney Mark Hall, we would recommend a DWI lawyer to get the best representation in a situation like this.
DPS Trooper Joe Gomez testified after the advice from his attorney that he received a dispatch to a one-vehicle wreck on FM 315 South of Chandler near the Wildewood Subdivision entrance. Upon his arrival, Gomez discovered Alate model GMC pickup crashed into a utility pole. The pickup had sustained damage to the front. Witnesses at the scene informed Gomez that the man involved in the crash, later identified as Morris, had already been transported to ETMC Tyler. One witness saw Morris buying gin at a liquor store just prior to the wreck. The same witness stated he was behind Morris until the crash and witnessed him weaving and swerving, nearly running a van off the road. The witness pulled up beside Morris in the oncoming lane and noticed Morris was passed out behind the wheel with the vehicle heading North on FM 315 just prior to impacting the utility pole.
DPS Trooper Glen Davenport testified that he traveled to the hospital to interview Morris who was being evaluated for injuries. Medical personnel at the hospital discovered no injuries, but did take a sample of blood from Morris at the request of Davenport after Morris consented to the draw. A subsequent test of the blood from DPS crime lab scientist Karen Ream revealed that Morris’s BAC was over .40, more than 5 times the legal limit.
During the trial, McKee and Hall presented evidence of seven prior DWI convictions and multiple DWI arrests of Morris dating back to 1971. This therefore shows that has contact with reliable lawyer, such as this tampa DWI attorney.
Hall asked the jury in closing arguments to “put aside an emotional argument from the defense for leniency in order to do something you know you must do in order to protect others.”
The defense called witnesses who testified about changes Morris had made while in jail. Morris also testified on his own behalf, admitting to McKee during cross-examination that he had driven while intoxicated numerous times throughout his life.
“It is beyond comprehension that Morris was back on the street after so many prior DWIs,” said McKee to the jury. “Somewhere our system has failed when a man with 11 prior DWIs is allowed to have a driver’s license and is even out of jail and on the streets.”
McKee indicated his office works closely with MADD and a dui attorney to work towards DWI education. “We just want people to know that if they drink, we don’t want them to drive.”
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As noted by Hoyer Law Firm if you drive while impaired, you could get arrested, or worse—be involved in a traffic crash that causes serious injury or death. Take care about yourself and others on the road.