High Profile DWIs in Texas

 Posted on September 09, 2021 in Uncategorized

If you hold a high-profile position in your community, a DWI arrest can be even more stressful. Your arrest may end up in the media; you may have reporters calling your home or people looking for your arrest records. That's what a Cibolo city councilman recently faced after a DWI arrest.

On August 8, 2021, the councilman crashed his car near Fazio Drive and Carnousty Drive in Cibolo. Police found him near his car in a large drainage ditch at about 1:45 am. He told officers he'd been driving home from a party where he'd consumed three beers. Police reported he had difficulty walking up the hill and then failed a field sobriety test. When an officer told him he believed he was drunk, the councilman agreed with him, stating, "I believe that." After he refused a breath BAC test, police got a warrant for a blood draw. The councilman faces a misdemeanor DWI charge after the court released him on a $3,000 bond.

Public Arrest Records

In Texas, arrest records are typically public records. As a result, anyone who runs a background check will find your arrest record, charge, and conviction for DWI. In some cases, however, you may be eligible to have your record expunged if:

• The court dismissed your DWI charge,
• You were a minor when arrested for DUI or DWI,
• The police never filed DWI charges,
• The court found you not guilty of DWI, or
• You appealed your conviction for DWI and won.

Under a 2017 Texas law, you may also be able to have a first-time DWI conviction sealed if:

• Your BAC was.15% or under,
• This was your first DWI conviction,
• You don't have any other criminal convictions,
• You've completed the terms of your sentence and paid any fines,
• Your DWI wasn't boating or flying while intoxicated, and
• Your DWI didn't cause an accident or injury to someone else.

Repairing Your Reputation

After an arrest, repairing your reputation can seem overwhelming. However, it's important to remember that you are innocent until proven guilty. You also deserve a robust defense from an experienced DWI attorney. If a court does convict you, in many cases, a public apology and public accountability can go a long way to regaining the trust of your community and your family. The Cibolo councilman also recently apologized for his actions, stating:

Each of you in our community places an enormous amount of trust and faith in our City Leaders. As a father, and a leader in our community, I understand how sacred trust is and how easily it can be lost. Not only did I fail myself, but I failed my family and my community with my lack of good judgment. Looking ahead, I promise that I will work every day to restore the trust I have lost, repair any harm I have caused, and continue to help the people of our wonderful community.

But first, you shouldn't assume that a DWI conviction is a foregone conclusion. A skilled DWI attorney can evaluate your case and guide you to the best possible conclusion.

Hire an Expert in Texas DWI Defense

If you're facing a high-profile DWI case, this isn't a process you should try to navigate on your own. You need a skilled DWI attorney by your side. Attorney Doug Murphy is a Board Certified expert in criminal law and DWI defense. Doug is one of only two Texas attorneys with Board Certifications in DWI Defense and Criminal Defense Law. Recently, U.S. News and World Report named him a DWI defense Best Lawyers in America in Houston for 2021. Doug Murphy has guided hundreds of Texans through DWI and criminal charges, and he can help you too. Find out why the Houston media calls Doug "the drinking driver's best friend." Call the Doug Murphy Law Firm, P.C. at 713-229-8333 or contact them online today to schedule your consultation.