Dateline: September 19, 2002

Two-time drunk gets 9 months 

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Some criminals don’t take their sentences seriously, according to County Attorney Pro Tem Kaye Messer.

Such was the case of 52-year-old José Estrada who pled guilty September 10 to Driving While Intoxicated charges and was given a $1,000 fine and one year probation. Five days later, Estrada was arrested for DWI again with a 0.165 blood alcohol level – more than twice the legal limit.

Officials aren’t sure what the man’s blood alcohol level was at the time of his first arrest. Messer said the arresting officer reported he was too drunk to blow the Breathalyzer.

Estrada, who claims Clarendon as his place of residence, pled guilty to the second charge on September 16, had his probation revoked, and is now serving a nine-month jail sentence.