Woman pleads guilty in death of motorcyclist
Judge agrees to show grisly photos in punishment-only trial
NEW BOSTON, Texas—A Texarkana woman pleaded guilty Monday to intoxication manslaughter but is opting to have her punishment decided by a Bowie County jury.
Callie Marie Jones, 59, hopes a jury will sentence her to probation in the Sept. 3, 2017, death of 29-year-old Skylar Crenshaw. She is eligible for probation because she has never before been convicted of a felony.
Jones’ lawyers, Joe Tyler and Shorty Barrett of Texarkana, argued Monday that grisly photos of Crenshaw’s body and severed arm will serve only to prejudice the jury against Jones and inflame their emotions. Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp argued that the photos are necessary to give the jury the facts.
“I will admit the photos in this case are gruesome,” Crisp said. “But this is an accurate recollection of what took place. Nothing has been manipulated; there was no medical aid rendered. This is how he appeared lying in the middle of New Boston Road.”
Crisp argued that the photos show the position of Crenshaw’s body, the weather conditions and other important details. The images are necessary to give the jury a clear understanding of how Crenshaw’s life ended, since they have a wide punishment range—two to 20 years—to consider, Crisp said.
If the jury sentences Jones to 10 or fewer years and if they recommend it, she could receive a term of probation up to 10 years.
More than 20 photographs taken at the scene were reviewed Monday by 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart. Lockhart said he is inclined to allow the state to show six of the photos taken at the scene and three photos taken at the medical examiner’s office before Crenshaw’s body was autopsied.
Crisp said the state intends to call the medical examiner and a state crime lab analyst to testify about Crenshaw’s injuries and Jones’ blood-alcohol level.
Jones was driving south on Reading Avenue and stopped at a stop sign at New Boston Road in Texarkana, Texas, before continuing south on Reading, according to a probable cause affidavit. Jones failed to see Crenshaw on his motorcycle and struck him with her car, hurling the man into a utility pole support cable.
Crenshaw’s injuries were severe and immediately fatal.
When detectives arrived at the scene, they were told by paramedics and patrol officers that Jones smelled strongly of alcohol. Jones allegedly told investigators she’d had “one or two beers,” but when an officer went to her car to retrieve her driver’s license, they observed a shot glass in the front cup holder, an open can of beer in the rear cup holder and a wet spot on the floor “as if something had been spilled.”
Jones consented to have her blood drawn at a local hospital and was asked to perform field-sobriety tests. She performed poorly on the tests.
In the jail, Jones told officers she’d had “two or three beers,” when asked what she had to drink. When asked how much, Jones said, “three or four beers.” Jones admitted to having consumed gin on the morning of the crash.
Whether or not the jury assesses probation, Jones is required by Texas law to serve a minimum of 120 days in jail.
Jury selection in the punishment-only trial is scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Bowie County courthouse. Opening statements and testimony are scheduled to begin Wednesday. Jones is currently free on bond.