| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 4474 | 2008-02-21 | Troop E | Repeat DWI Offender Sentenced To 30 Years |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE News Release Date: February 21, 2008 Repeat DWI Offender Sentenced To 30 Years On February 4, 2007, Louisiana State Police Troop E received information from a concerned motorist regarding an impaired driver. The concerned motorist had observed the impaired driver, later identified as Mr. David L. Stapleton of Dry Prong, swerving all over the road and had caused several oncoming vehicles to leave the roadway in order to avoid a collision. This information allowed Louisiana State Police Trooper Joseph Dessens to locate Mr. Stapleton at the intersection of LA Hwy 1241 at US 71 in Grant Parish. Trooper Dessens observed Mr. Stapleton’s vehicle stopped in the roadway (half off and half in the lane of travel). Trooper Dessens also observed Mr. Stapleton unconscious behind the steering wheel, the engine running, his foot on the brake, and the vehicle was in gear. When Trooper Dessens was able to awaken Mr. Stapleton, he had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage upon him and could barely maintain his balance. Trooper Dessens charged Mr. Stapleton with DWI 4th offense and Simple Obstruction of a Highway of Commerce. According to a release issued by Mr. Jay Lemoine, Grant Parish District Attorney, a Grant Parish jury rendered a guilty verdict on January 15, 2008, after deliberating only about 20 minutes. At a sentencing hearing on February 7, 2008 the Grant Parish District Attorney’s Office requested that Judge Allen Krake sentence Mr. Stapleton to the maximum term of 30 years. Judge Krake sentenced Mr. Stapleton to 30 years at hard labor with Louisiana Department of Corrections. Mr. Lemoine stated, “Mr. Stapleton has been a threat to public safety for many years. He has been arrested for DWI 14 times since 1977. He is now off the streets, in jail, and serving thirty years in prison at hard labor." District Attorney Lemoine stated that Stapleton was charged as a "fourth offender" because the law provides the same sentence range for "fourth and subsequent offenses". "His record supports the imposition of the maximum sentence", Lemoine said. Captain Joel “Young” Kilpatrick, Troop E Commander stated, “The verdict rendered by the honorable Judge Krake sends a loud and clear message: you drink, you drive, you lose. Louisiana State Police will continue to aggressively intercept and arrest impaired drivers. This ruling should show how serious law enforcement and the court systems are about removing impaired drivers from our highways”. As demonstrated in this arrest and conviction, public involvement is imperative. Louisiana State Police asks that if you should witness someone displaying impaired driving behavior please call *LSP (*577) or your local law enforcement agency. This should be a community effort. The actions of others can affect us all. For More Information, Contact: S/T Scott Moreau Louisiana State Police Troop E Public Affairs Office: (318) 487-5915 www.lsp.org ____________________________________________________________ xxx LSP xxx | |||
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