Benton woman facing felony DWI after wreck; allegedly fourth arrest
A Benton woman was charged with a felony count of driving while intoxicated, her fourth DWI arrest since 2015, following a wreck at a local motel early Monday.
Paula Marie Harris, 44, of Benton, was taken into custody shortly before 4:30 a.m. on a felony count of DWI, fourth offense, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of driving on a suspended driver’s license and refusal to submit to chemical testing.
Harris, who was also cited for having no liability insurance, remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of a $2,500 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 4 a.m. Monday, Hot Springs police Officer 1st Class Kevin Moore responded to the Lynwood Motel, 857 Park Ave., regarding a wreck involving property damage.
He made contact with the driver, identified as Harris, and reportedly noted she had a strong odor of intoxicants coming from her person, red, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.
Harris reportedly stated she was driving a gray Ford Escape when the wreck occurred. Asked if she had consumed any alcohol, she allegedly replied, “A few beers” approximately four hours earlier.
Harris consented to three field sobriety tests at the scene and reportedly failed all of them. She was taken into custody at that point and taken to the Garland County Detention Center where she reportedly refused to sign any paperwork or to provide a breath sample for testing.
According to the affidavit, Harris was previously convicted of driving while intoxicated on Sept. 11, 2015, May 30, 2017, and Oct. 18, 2017. According to court records, her last conviction was in Garland County after pleading no contest to DWI, third offense, and she was sentenced to 90 days in jail, fined $2,530 and placed on six months’ probation.