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Globe, Arizona – Gila County Attorney Bradley D. Beauchamp announced that on September 9, 2015, New Mexico resident Westi Yvonne Hicks was sentenced by the Honorable Timothy M. Wright to 24 months supervised probation and 17 days in the Gila County Jail after pleading guilty “straight up” to a felony Aggravated DUI with a Child in the Vehicle. In addition to jail and fines, Hicks was ordered to attend state-mandated substance abuse counseling as a term of probation.
According to Deputy Gila County Attorney Duncan J. Rose, who prosecuted the case, on May 4, 2014, Ms. Hicks was observed driving a vehicle towing a boat and swerving back and forth on Highway 188 by Roosevelt Lake. When she was stopped by a Gila County Sheriff’s Deputy, it was discovered that Hicks’ had two children in the car and that her BAC was .235%, nearly three times the legal limit in Arizona. Hicks plead guilty after the Gila County Attorney’s Office declined to offer her a plea agreement under “Calandra’s Policy.” Under this policy, individuals who commit DUI-related offenses with children present are not given a plea agreement and can either plead guilty “straight-up” to the charges or go to trial.
Gila County Sheriff’s Deputy Thor Nudson and U.S. Forest Service Officer Leo Hutsell conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Hicks. County Attorney Beauchamp commended the Gila County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service for their hard work and dedication to duty.
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