Local News
Jury sentences man to 25 years for seventh DWI
A Henderson County Jury took just under 1 hour to sentence a Brownsboro man to 25 years in the penitentiary for his seventh driving while intoxicated conviction in Judge Mark Calhoon’s 3rd District Court Wednesday night.
Royce Ray Savell, 52, of Brownsboro, pled not guilty to the DWI charge stemming from an April 20, 2008 arrest by Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Johnnie Massey.
Massey was patrolling an area near Farm-to-Market 314 and County Road 3603 when he observed Savell’s vehicle weaving and traveling at a high rate of speed. Trooper Massey caught up with the vehicle as he turned into Gullett’s trailer park and eventually stopped in front of a trailer Savell claimed was his. Savell had as a passenger his 19 year-old son and claimed he was coming from a party.
During the trial, Massey testified that he believed Savell was extremely intoxicated and that he had refused to take a breath test. Assistant District Attorney Bridget Bateman introduced the video tape of the incident and told the jury during closing arguments that they should not want someone like Savell on the same roads that their children and grandchildren would be traveling.
The jury deliberated for approximately two and a half hours before returning a guilty verdict.
During the sentencing phase of the trial, Bateman was allowed to introduce Savell’s previous DWI convictions, three of which Savell pled were not true. Major Kevin Hanes of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department testified that he compared Savell’s fingerprints with those from his previous convictions and determined that they were from Savell.
Bateman told the jury that she knew it wasn’t easy to send a man to prison for DWI but they should consider the fact that Savell had been drinking and driving since 1984. She also responded to the defense’s arguments by telling the jury that “they should sleep well knowing that he would not be driving on our roads anymore”.
After the trial, District Attorney Scott McKee acknowledged that Texas leads the nation in alcohol-related deaths.
“I am relieved that this jury took Mr. Savell off our streets,” he said. “Based on the number of DWIs Mr. Savell has racked up over the years, it was obvious to me that it was only a matter of time before he killed someone or himself.”
McKee also said his office has now encouraged and provided the resources to obtain search warrants to draw blood from those who are suspected of a felony level DWI and refuse to submit to a breath test.
“I know the Legislature is working on these issues this session with bills to allow DWI checkpoints as well as making it easier to obtain blood evidence from those suspected of drinking and driving,” McKee said. “However, until and if these get passed we will have to continue to be vigilant and obtain warrants when probable cause exists.”
Texas is one of only eleven states that do not allow checkpoints.
- Local News
-
-
Three arrested on drug charges
Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt reports four recent arrests by west-end investigators that solved an Athens-area car burglary, and a Malakoff jewelry theft.
-
Hoofbeats pound pavement in the rain
Splash, splash, splash went the hoofbeats as New Hampshire native Bob Skelding’s horse-drawn wagon rolled through Henderson County Monday.
-
Highway 175 proves to be busy chase route
U.S. Highway 175 has been a busy strip of roadway lately with offenders attempting to outrun law officers in vehicle chases.
-
Preparations for March 2 primary elections in full swing
Preparations for the March 2 primary elections are in full swing at the Henderson County Election Center.
-
Cruising the seas
Ewald and Doris Albers take the Athens Daily Review with them on their cruise to Honduras and Mexico, aboard the Voyager of the Seas.
-
Time to get busy pruning
February is here and it is time to get busy, for fruit growers that is, pruning fruit trees in East Texas.
-
SAR honors a good corporate citizen
Athens Chapter Sons of the American Revolution President Charles Luna, right, presents First State Bank, Athens Vice President Michael Neill with the Community Service Award for funding its Eagle Scout Scholarship, the Jeff Austin, Senior Scholarship.
-
ETMC Auxiliary Report
To those of you who have considered joining our auxiliary but haven’t done it yet, I wish you could have been at the Feb. 3 meeting.
-
ETGS to focus on writing
The East Texas Genealogical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting on Saturday, February 13, at 2 p.m. in the Taylor Auditorium at the Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College, Tyler.
-
Financial gifts for your valentine
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, so you’d better get going with the flowers and chocolates for your sweetie.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Three arrested on drug charges
