• 17
  • August
    2010

A life sentence is about as serious as it gets. That sentence is usually saved for murderers and severely violent offenders, but a recent Texas DWI case has challenged that notion. In July, Bobby Stovall was arrested and charged with a DWI; it was his ninth drunk driving conviction in Texas.

The July arrest occurred after Stovall's drunkenness resulted in his reckless driving. He was swerving across lanes and crashed into an unsuspecting driver who luckily didn't suffer a serious personal injury in the car accident. When police tested Stovall's blood alcohol content level it measured at 0.32.

In order to be cited for driving while intoxicated, the BAC limit is 0.08. Clearly, Stovall was driving while he was far beyond the legal limit. The severity of Stovall's drunkenness, along with the fact that he is a repeat DWI offender, led to the Texas judge's ruling that put Stovall in prison for life. 

That harsh decision has surprised and upset some in the community who believe that the judge overlooked or was insensitive to the evidence that Stovall is an alcoholic who needs medical, rehabilitative help, not a life-long prison term. They are worried that this might set a precedent for punishing sick people rather than helping them.

The district attorney in this case, however, passionately supports the judge's sentence. He argues that Stovall's past shows that he has little respect for the law and the lives of Texas drivers. While it might be true that Stovall has not yet killed anyone while driving drunk, his habitual behavior likely would have ended in a future fatal car accident if he were not put behind bars as soon as possible.

Those who support the life sentence argue that Stovall, 54, has had much of his life to try and work on his alcoholism and he has failed to do so. Challengers of the sentence regret that Stovall has lost any opportunity to get better and live a healthy life outside of prison.

Resource

ABC News: Is Life Sentence Too Harsh for Man Convicted of Ninth DWI? (8/13/2010)