Gonzales man convicted of sixth-offense DWI

GONZALES — An Ascension Parish jury has convicted a Gonzales man on a sixth charge of driving while intoxicated.

The defendant was accused of nearly hitting a parish sheriff’s lieutenant during a 2010 drunken-driving episode that occurred while the man was on probation for a prior DWI conviction, prosecutors said Wednesday.

District Judge Alvin Turner Jr. last week deferred sentencing of Paul Naquin Jr., 48, 729 S. Sammy St., Gonzales, after 12 jurors deliberated 21/2 hours
before finding Naquin guilty Friday, prosecutors with the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

The 23rd Judicial District encompasses Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes.

Naquin, now awaiting the outcome of a pre-sentence investigation, remained in Ascension Parish Prison in Donaldsonville on Wednesday with bail set at $100,000.

Because state law does not list fifth- or sixth-offense DWI charges, prosecutors said, Naquin was convicted on a count of fourth- or subsequent-offense DWI.

Conviction on that count means Naquin faces a sentence of between 10 and 30 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, but a judge may suspend all but two years in prison time with probation.

Prosecutors accused Naquin of removing his home incarceration ankle bracelet for probation on his third-offense
DWI conviction and driving under the influence on May 9, 2010.

The sheriff’s lieutenant, who had been standing next to his vehicle on the road when Naquin passed him, followed Naquin home to his driveway 90 yards away. The lieutenant saw Naquin was intoxicated and later arrested him, prosecutors said.

At trial in the Ascension Parish Courthouse Annex in Gonzales on Jan. 16 and Friday, Assistant District Attorney Joni Buquoi presented evidence of three of Naquin’s five prior DWI convictions, prosecutors said.

Buquoi said Wednesday that Turner had ruled that presenting evidence of Naquin’s fourth and fifth drunken-driving convictions could inflame and prejudice jurors, while the added information they carried did not serve a legal purpose in prosecuting a fourth- or subsequent-offense DWI charge.

Buquoi said defense attorneys had stipulated to Naquin’s three previous DWI convictions.

Comments

1) Comment by Whatnow - 12/02/2013

BoiledCrabs, or a complete idiot....

2) Comment by BoiledCrabs - 27/01/2013

The only reason a judge would "suspend all but two years in prison time with probation" is if that judge is bribed or is a fellow alcoholic.

3) Comment by foldgers - 24/01/2013

SO wait, because this state only has up to a 4th offense DWI in the law books, each time after 4, you can only be tried for your 4th? I could have been arrested 10 times for one, but only on trial for my 4th? I think the legislature needs to fix that. Come on MADD, get them on this??? The jury could be inflamed and prejudiced if they hear of his 4th and 5th DWI convictions??? Duh, yeah! Either way, if he is found guilty, the judge knows of them and should give him the MAX sentence. This guy doesn't care as he even tried to remove his ankle bracelet in the past. Anything less than the max for the 4th offense would be an insult. And the max fine is $5000??? Now wonder...

4) Comment by PN - 24/01/2013

I know someone that has been arrested 4 times within a year on drug charges in Ascension parish. Possession with intent to distribute and operation and creation of a meth lab are 2 of the charges. The longest they were in jail is 2 weeks before being released on bail and has yet to see a court date.

5) Comment by Whatnow - 24/01/2013

I guess it does take a death to get drunks off the streets. With this man, his vehicle is a potential weapon.

6) Comment by giddyup - 24/01/2013

Judge Turner needs to go. It's this kind of thought process that allows criminals back on the street. It's not as if Naquin was accused of 5 and 6, he was convicted. The juries should know this. The defense stipulated to the prior 3 to keep all the facts in the prior cases from being brought up in detail. This causes the jury to focus on the one case. Good job to DA Babin, because it shows that his staff tried to present all the facts.

7) Comment by Bighug - 24/01/2013

If the drunk driver had killed someone, would the judge withhold that information from the jury? It could inflame them.

8) Comment by Woody - 23/01/2013

raise your hand if you think the judge is going to do the right thing.

9) Comment by redavaw1 - 23/01/2013

Is the judge going to take responsibility for the family he kills on his seventh DWI? Put this guy away for 10 years at least. 2 years is just a slap on the wrist. The next person he kills or mames will have grounds to sue the State of Louisiana for financial support to take care of him and/or his entire family for the rest of their lives because of this. Way to go Louisiana!

10) Comment by Being_Stupid - 23/01/2013

Do you get the electric chair on your 6th DWI ?

11) Comment by PTruett10 - 23/01/2013

holy guacamole..... that's a lot of dewy s.