George Lee Harvey |
The ninth time was the charm for a New Caney man sentenced to life in prison for drunk driving.
A Montgomery County jury in Judge Lisa Michalk's Court Wednesday evening decided the fate of George Lee Harvey -- a serial drunk driver with eight prior DWI convictions.
According to prosecutor Adrienne Frazior, the crash happened on April 3, 2009 just before midnight on FM 1485 and Kings Rd. in New Caney. Harvey was backing out of his driveway without his headlights on when another drunk driver hit him.
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and Department of Public Safety responded and spoke to Harvey, noting that he had slurred speech. Harvey told the officers on scene to take him to jail.
Investigators said that Harvey told them he had been drinking for three days and had drank "everything you can imagine," including "whiskey, wine and women."
Harvey refused to perform field sobriety tests or give a breath sample, so they obliged Harvey's request to be taken to jail. The jury ensured Harvey will be spending a lot more time there than he bargained for.
Evidence presented by Frazior to the jury revealed that Harvey was a "habitual offender" with two prior trips to the penitentiary, making his applicable punishment range 25 years to life in prison. Prosecutors presented evidence through prison sentencing documents and county criminal histories that Harvey had eight prior convictions for driving while intoxicated as well as convictions for possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended license.
Frazior said the defendant was a "ticking time bomb" to the citizens of Montgomery County and had to be stopped.
District Attorney Brett Ligon said he has focused a large amount of resources on DWI offenders in the county because vehicles operated by drunk or reckless drivers are the largest killers of Montgomery County residents. He believes the streets are safer because of this verdict and that it sends a message to potential offenders that Montgomery County is not a safe haven for repeat offenders.
The drunk driver that hit Harvey that night last April pleaded guilty to DWI -- first offense -- on Aug. 27, 2009.
A Montgomery County jury in Judge Lisa Michalk's Court Wednesday evening decided the fate of George Lee Harvey -- a serial drunk driver with eight prior DWI convictions.
According to prosecutor Adrienne Frazior, the crash happened on April 3, 2009 just before midnight on FM 1485 and Kings Rd. in New Caney. Harvey was backing out of his driveway without his headlights on when another drunk driver hit him.
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and Department of Public Safety responded and spoke to Harvey, noting that he had slurred speech. Harvey told the officers on scene to take him to jail.
Investigators said that Harvey told them he had been drinking for three days and had drank "everything you can imagine," including "whiskey, wine and women."
Harvey refused to perform field sobriety tests or give a breath sample, so they obliged Harvey's request to be taken to jail. The jury ensured Harvey will be spending a lot more time there than he bargained for.
Evidence presented by Frazior to the jury revealed that Harvey was a "habitual offender" with two prior trips to the penitentiary, making his applicable punishment range 25 years to life in prison. Prosecutors presented evidence through prison sentencing documents and county criminal histories that Harvey had eight prior convictions for driving while intoxicated as well as convictions for possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended license.
Frazior said the defendant was a "ticking time bomb" to the citizens of Montgomery County and had to be stopped.
District Attorney Brett Ligon said he has focused a large amount of resources on DWI offenders in the county because vehicles operated by drunk or reckless drivers are the largest killers of Montgomery County residents. He believes the streets are safer because of this verdict and that it sends a message to potential offenders that Montgomery County is not a safe haven for repeat offenders.
The drunk driver that hit Harvey that night last April pleaded guilty to DWI -- first offense -- on Aug. 27, 2009.
