Authorities in Texas recently arrested the starting offensive lineman for the University of Texas Longhorns. Accused of causing a single-car accident while under the influence of alcohol, he is currently facing a DWI charge. It is unclear how his position with the Longhorns will be affected by these allegations.
Police claim that they first came upon the student in the drive-thru lane of a local restaurant. He had apparently fallen asleep at the wheel, and authorities then woke him and requested that he move his vehicle. The student complied with the officer’s request, but ultimately wrecked his vehicle somewhere in the restaurant’s parking lot. No other vehicles were involved.
When authorities approached the wrecked vehicle, the student had apparently once again fallen asleep. He was then arrested and taken to an area jail, where he was booked at shortly before 5 in the morning. It is not clear exactly how authorities determined that the student was under the influence, although common procedures include Breathalyzers and field sobriety tests. The Longhorns coach released a statement voicing his opposition to drinking and driving, but also stated that he was waiting until he had all of the facts about the case before Deciding on any type of punishment for the player.
DWI charges typically have immediate consequences, including the suspension of driving privileges. While requesting an administrative hearing in a timely manner can sometimes help defendants retain those privileges, there are still the actual charges to address. Most defendants in Texas can achieve the most favorable outcome possible by taking the time to conduct a thorough review of their charges and related evidence alongside their respective counsels, as doing so can help determine which defense strategies are most appropriate for their unique situations.
Source: ESPN, “Texas starting OL Kent Perkins arrested on DWI charge“, Max Olson, Sept. 23, 2016
