40 year old Jonathan Williams of Ft. Worth was sentenced to eight years, near the ten year maximum, for a March traffic incident in College Station.
Williams admitted to reckless driving before being pulled over, then dragging a College Station policeman while leaving the traffic stop, then being involved in a high speed chase that ended in a crash at Texas and George Bush.
News release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office:
On Monday, July 2, 2018, Jonathan Williams pled guilty to Evading Arrest in a Vehicle, a third degree felony with a punishment range of 2-10 years imprisonment in Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institution Division (TDCJ).
Jonathan Williams was sentenced to serve 8 years in TDCJ.
On the night of March 3, 2018, College Station Police stopped the defendant for reckless driving after he was seen swerving and nearly hitting other vehicles on the road.
When officers approached the defendant’s vehicle, he exhibited several signs of intoxication.
During the traffic stop, the defendant admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages and being prescribed Xanax.
As Williams spoke with officers from the driver seat of his car, he shifted the car into gear and began to drive away.
Officer Lovelace attempted to keep the defendant from fleeing, and instructed him to turn off the vehicle.
Rather than complying, the defendant sped off, dragging Officer Lovelace approximately 20 feet.
The defendant then led officers on a 2 mile chase where he continued to drive recklessly and at high rates of speed.
He ultimately wrecked his vehicle at the intersection of Texas Avenue and George Bush Drive, and then fled from officers on foot.
Williams had never been sentence to prison before. Notwithstanding that fact, his conduct in this case required a prison sentence at the top end of the range.
The defendant was also convicted of Driving While Intoxicated.