On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Judge David Hilburn of the 361st District Court sentenced Sabrina Perez to 6 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) 3rd or More.
The offense occurred in December 2023 when officers with the College Station Police Department responded to a three-vehicle crash in the 2400 block of Texas Avenue. While no one was injured in the crash, the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident informed the other drivers that it was her third DWI offense.
When officers approached Perez, they observed distinct signs of intoxication, including the odor of alcohol, red and glassy eyes, slurred speech, and difficulty maintaining her balance. Perez told officers she had consumed only two beers after work and was on her way home.
Officers attempted to administer a Standard Field Sobriety Test, but due to Perez’s extreme level of intoxication, the test could not be completed. Perez refused to consent to a breath or blood draw, prompting officers to obtain a search warrant for a blood draw at Saint Joseph's Hospital. The test results revealed that Perez's blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.214, nearly five hours after the crash.
Perez had a prior conviction for Credit/Debit Card Abuse from the Elderly, for which she was placed on probation. She was sent to an inpatient treatment facility to address substance abuse but violated her probation, resulting in a 2-year sentence in the TDCJ. This previous prison sentence enhanced her current offense to a second-degree felony.
Perez pled guilty to the DWI charge in October 2024, and a punishment hearing was held in December. During the hearing, testimony was presented from one of the responding officers and a person involved in the crash. After hearing the evidence, Judge Hilburn sentenced Perez to 6 years in TDCJ.
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Porter prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Texas, stating, “The defendant’s actions placed the lives of members in our community in danger. The Court sent a message that this type of behavior isn’t welcome in Brazos County.”
