July 2, 2020 – A Sulphur Springs man, accused in June 2019 of almost striking a police officer’s vehicle while driving drunk, was sentenced July 1 on the felony DWI charge stemming from the incident.
Joseph Andrew Newman, as part of a plea agreement, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be probated for 10 years, on the June 28, 2019 driving while intoxicated, third or more offense charge, according to District Attorney Will Ramsay and court records.
Newman, a Sulphur Springs who was 31 at the time of his arrest, was jailed June 29 on the felony driving while intoxicated charge, after he nearly crashed a Buick LaSabre into a patrol officer’s vehicle, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Shea Shaw was contacted by another officer, who had reportedly stopped the car at 11:53 p.m. June 28, 2019. Newman was reported to have been driving and suspected to be intoxicated. Shaw was later advised the man had nearly wrecked into the other patrol unit on College Street. An officer reported stopping the man on South Broadway Street at Taco Bell. Upon contact, Shaw reported seeing three bottles on top of the car and smelling an alcoholic beverage odor emitting from Newman. Shaw administered field sobriety tests and noted the man showed multiple clues of intoxication.
Consequently, Newman was transported to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked early June 29, 2019, for DWI, marking at least the third time he had been charged on the offense, which enhances the charge to a felony offense. He was released from Hopkins County jail later that day on a $10,000 bond.
Newman was indicted on the felony DWI charge in September 2019, according to court records. The Sulphur Springs man was sentenced on the felony DWI charge on July 1 in the 8th Judicial District Court.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
