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Repeat DWI Offender Receives Maximum Jail Sentences

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From the Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney's Office
May 25, 2010

On May 20, 2010, less than thirty minutes after retiring to deliberate, a Rockwall County jury returned a verdict of guilty against James Earle Dodson, 55, on charges of Driving While Intoxicated and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Mr. Dodson was charged after a July 13, 2009, accident in which he hit a carload of family members, including four young boys. A 12 year old boy was more seriously injured in the accident.

During the punishment phase, jurors heard that Mr. Dodson had been previously convicted of five DWI’s and is currently on bond in two other DWI’s, all of which occurred in counties other than Rockwall. The jury subsequently sentenced him to the maximum sentence of ten (10) years in prison on the DWI and fifteen (15) years in prison on the Aggravated Assault.

“Citizens all over Texas are safer with Mr. Dodson behind bars,” said Kenda Culpepper, Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney. Suzanne Fichtel, lead prosecutor on the case, said the victims in the case, all of whom have now recovered, “were pleased with the verdict and are ready to put the incident behind them”.

Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
1101 Ridge Road, Ste. 105
Rockwall, Texas 75087
(972) 204-6800