Man arrested a dozen times on DWI charges appealing prison sentence in San Antonio

[TexasTowelie]

SAN ANTONIO — A habitual drunken driver who recently was handed a 10-year sentence for repeat drunken driving is appealing his punishment.

Carlos Faz, who has been arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated a dozen times in Bexar County over the past four decades, claimed in court paperwork filed last month that he wasn’t aware the plea agreement he signed meant he would be sent to prison.

“Had I known that a plea agreement would result in prison time, I would not have signed it,” he wrote.

State District Judge Kevin O’Connell, who handled Faz’ sentencing in April, recused himself from hearing the case on Friday. Now it will be reassigned to a different judge and placed back on a docket from there.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Man-arrested-a-dozen-times-on-DWI-charges-6314475.php

[font color=330099]That sounds about 10 years too short, IMO.[/font]

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. If you've been arrested a dozen times for DWI,

chances are you've been drunk driving while NOT getting caught hundreds of times.

[DetlefK]

2. I don't know if the US has the regulations for my solution...

I knew a guy who this happened to in Germany. He was caught DWI a few times and had his driver's license taken away from him. He wasn't allowed to obtain a new one in Germany for X years. He went abroad and got a new driver's license there... not realizing that he's not allowed to wield ANY driver's license in Germany before the time is up.

[Travis_0004]

4. That happens in America

People have had their license suspended for life for racking up to many DUI charges, but still find a car and drive anyway.

I think that sometimes the only solution is jail, and I have no problem with a 10 year sentence for a 12th DUI.

I wonder if he waived his right to a lawyer, as I would hope any lawyer would have told him one the results of a plea bargain would have been.

[davidpdx]

3. I don't have any sympathy for the guy

He's lucky he hasn't killed anyone because if he had, he sure would be facing a lot more time.

I think I've told this story about a half dozen times on DU. My first wife's brother had a bunch of DUI's in Oregon and had his license suspended and still drove. He moved out to North Carolina and got a license and continued to get DUI's and I believe his license there was suspended as well. One day we are sitting at home and we receive a collect call from her brother. He had been arrested for driving drunk. His gf was in the car and he'd been going in excess of 75 miles an hour and ran his car off the road and hit something (I can't remember what). She was killed instantly. My then wife asked me what to do and I looked at her and said you better find him a good attorney, he's going to need one. He was eventually convicted of manslaughter and sentences to 15 years.

On edit: I actually looked up another post where I told this story. My memory of that isn't perfect and got the details wrong, so I copy/pasted it here:

My first wife's brother had a bunch of DUI's in Oregon and his license was suspended. He moved to a state on the east coast and got a license there and continued to rack up DUI's until his license got suspended. Apparently he lived there with his girlfriend. I never met him so I only got things second hand. Anyway, he was driving one night (with a suspended license) and very drunk and was going 90 mph around a curve with his girlfriend in his car and wrapped it around a telephone poll. He lived, but the girlfriend didn't. I was there when he called to talk to his sister (my then wife). She asked me what to do and I said you better find him a really good lawyer. He was convicted and sentenced to 15 years. This would have been around 2002, so he's got around 3 years or so left before he gets out.

[TexasProgresive]

5. Was Faz ever convicted in those prior arrests?

I don't see that in the story. I don't know about Bexar County but he would''ve been in a world of hurt if he had been convicted twice before this last one had it been in Brazos County.

[Gothmog]

6. This guy has issues