A jury in Parker County sentenced a 50-year-old man from Weatherford, Texas, to life in prison on Tuesday, April 18, after he was convicted of his ninth charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI).
Christopher Faran Stanford’s latest DWI conviction came as the result of an incident on August 15, 2022, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Stanford was allegedly involved in a collision with another car — a Kia Sorento — at an intersection just south of Weatherford.
A married couple and their teenage daughter were in the Kia Sorento, and they all sustained minor injuries, according to prosecutors.
After questioning the driver of the Kia Sorento, first responders learned that Stanford had driven his Lincoln MKC through a red light and collided with another vehicle from behind.
“I have to go. I’m going to get in trouble,” Stanford allegedly told the other driver before fleeing the scene, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
State troopers eventually found Stanford hiding in a bush. His clothes were ripped, and he had sustained several lacerations after jumping over a barbed-wire fence.
The prosecution presented video footage as evidence during Stanford’s trial that apparently showed him acting belligerent with first responders and state troopers.
“At one point, [Stanford] even tried to headbutt the Lifecare EMT that was trying to treat him,” Assistant District Attorney Abby Placke explained, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “He was so drunk and obnoxious that the officers were unable to administer the field sobriety tests they normally perform. But it was clear that he was drunk, so he was arrested.”
Stanford’s blood alcohol concentration level was later found to be 0.267%.
To achieve this blood alcohol score, a 150-pound man would have to drink about 10 12-ounce beers in one hour.
This was three times the legal limit in Texas, which is 0.08% for regular drivers.
Driving with a blood alcohol level between 0.08% and 0.15% typically results in a Class B misdemeanor, whereas an alcohol level of 0.15% or above can result in a Class A misdemeanor conviction.
While a Class B misdemeanor typically results in a minimum of 72 hours in jail and a maximum fine of $3,000, the Class A misdemeanor charge carries a minimum of 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of $6,000.
Although the latest DWI was Stanford’s first in Parker County, District Attorney Jeff Swain said that “he has been a menace on the roadways throughout the DFW area,” per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Stanford had prior DWI convictions in Dallas, Tarrant, Johnson, and Rockwall Counties and had already served four prison sentences related to them.
“His record showed that he was going to continue endangering communities throughout the Metroplex unless he was locked up,” Swain explained, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
While Stanford pleaded guilty to the latest DWI charge during his trial, he also testified that he did not have a problem with alcohol and that his actions were merely the result of being “very unlucky,” per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
After deliberating for an hour and a half, the jury sided with the prosecution, and Stanford was sentenced to life in prison.
“Under Texas law, Mr. Stanford will be eligible for parole when his actual time served plus his good time credit totals 15 years,” said Swain, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
It is ultimately the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles that decides whether convicts are released or detained after serving their minimum sentences.
In 2021, the board approved 25,190 cases for parole out of 65,488 for an approval score of 38.47%, per its annual report.
DWIs were behind approximately 24% of all traffic deaths in the Lone Star State in 2021.