Man Sentenced to 99 Years in Prison after Eighth DWI Conviction

By Marianne Madden

Published on September 14, 2006

The pronouncement of the lengthy sentence followed a guilty plea by the man, Murrell Ray Bridges, after he was nabbed by police for DWI (driving while intoxicated). He chose to have a Parker County jury decide his sentence.

The sentence was prompted by a November 2004 incident in which Bridges was pulled over while driving his pickup truck westbound on Interstate 20 in Willow Park, Texas. When he took a field sobriety test, his blood alcohol concentration was found to be 0.17 – more than twice the legal limit.

Bridges has a long rap sheet of felonies, misdemeanors, and DWI convictions. Prosecutors charged that he has three prior misdemeanor DWI convictions, four felony DWI convictions, two reckless driving convictions, and eight felony convictions relating to vehicle titles.

It is rare that a DWI conviction results in such a long sentence, even in the case of a repeat offender like Bridges. While the 99-year prison sentence is undoubtedly severe, prosecutors said that Bridges will be eligible for parole in 15 years.

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