| Inmate name: | Joshua Wimer |
| Charge description: | A jury convicted Joshua Wimer on April 23, 2014 of Driving While Intoxicated in less than 30 minutes. The 27-year-old Woodlands man was arrested and charged at the end of a high-speed chase in August 2012. According to Assistant District Attorney Grayson Miller, Wimer was traveling 95 mph southbound on Hwy. 59 when DPS Trooper Devon Wiles tried to pull him over near Murphy Road in Stafford. The defendant initially slowed and exited the freeway, but then sped off and re-entered Hwy. 59. Wimer wove through traffic, nearly striking tractor-trailers and passenger cars over his 19-mile flight that lasted nine minutes. At one point, the defendant lost control and nearly crashed when he exited at Williams Way, blew through the stop sign on the service road, and drove into the grassy area on the left side of the onramp. Undeterred, Wimer sped off again. He eventually pulled over and was arrested in Rosenberg just past the FM 2218 overpass. Wimer would exit the highway four separate times as he attempted to evade Trooper Wiles, sometimes at speeds up to 140 miles per hour. Trooper Wiles noted a strong odor of alcohol on the defendant as he placed him in his patrol car. Wimer stated he had no more than usual to drink, which amounted to a couple of shots of liquor and a couple of beers. The defendant slurred his speech and was incoherent, as if he had a thick tongue and difficulty forming sentences. Wimer passed out during the ride to jail and refused a field sobriety evaluation or to provide a blood/breath specimen. The defendant also told the trooper that he only stopped because he had no way out. Intoxication makes people do dumb things that quickly become dangerous, said Miller. Were all fortunate for Trooper Wiles courage in pursuit of such a dangerous drunk that night. Wimer was tried in County Court at Law No. 2 before Presiding Judge Jeffrey A. McMeans. Driving While Intoxicated in this case is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine up to $2,000. The defendant was sentenced to a $1,000 fine and 13 days in jail for the DWI but is currently serving two-years probation for the felony Evading Arrest/Detention charge arising from the high-speed chase. Wimer could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison should he fail to abide by the terms of his probation. Assistant District Attorney Grayson Miller prosecuted the case and was assisted by Assistant District Attorney Twyanette Wallace. Attorney Kevin Wright represented the defendant. |
| Booking location: | Fort Bend County, TX |
