Man convicted on DWI, fleeing charges
A local man was convicted of felony fleeing and driving while intoxicated Wednesday after a one- day trial in Garland County Circuit Court, but was found not guilty of a more serious charge involving a stolen vehicle.
The jury found David Chase McGuire, who turns 21 today, guilty on the fleeing charge and recommended a sentence of one year in jail and guilty on the misdemeanor DWI, first offense, charge and recommended a sentence of one day in jail, a $ 200 fine and the suspension of his driver’s license for six months.
McGuire, who lists a Bell Street address, was not immediately taken into custody and is set to be formally sentenced Monday in circuit court, after a pre- sentencing screening. He was found not guilty of a felony charge of theft by receiving more than $ 5,000, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. McGuire was represented in court by attorney Tim Beckham.
According to the affidavit, on Jan. 27, 2015, shortly before 9: 30 p. m., Hot Springs police Officer
1st Class West was dispatched to Dexter Street in reference to a suspicious truck driving up and down the road with the headlights off.
Upon arrival, West drove onto Burroughs Street toward Dexter and observed a GMC Canyon turning toward him with the headlights off. West turned around and followed the vehicle to Burroughs and Richards. The vehicle then turned on Richards and made an abrupt stop at the railroad tracks. At this time, West attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle pulled into a parking lot at the 600 block of Richard Street.
As West approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, the driver accelerated and fled. West pursued the suspect onto Main Street, where the driver sped through a stop sign, “manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.”
The driver then turned onto Orchard Street, driving 50 mph in a 25 mph area. He then turned onto Mann Street and ran another stop sign before losing control at a curve on Mann and Sherman Street. The driver, identified as McGuire, came to a stop off the road and was placed into custody.
West attempted to find the vehicle identification number but couldn’t read it because of red paint sprayed on the windshield to obscure it. The VIN sticker on the driver’s door had also been painted over. West located an insurance card inside the vehicle and it was discovered the Canyon had been reported stolen three days earlier.
McGuire was transported to the Garland County Detention Center and during booking, West noticed an odor of intoxicants from him. McGuire admitted he had been drinking beer earlier and submitted to three field sobriety tests which he failed. He then registered 0.10 percent blood alcohol on a breathalyzer, over the legal limit.
He was taken into custody on the fleeing, DWI and theft charges and was later released on $ 7,000 bond.