Ex-NFL Star Vince Young Arrested for DWI

 Posted on February 02, 2019 in Uncategorized

Ex-NFL quarterback and University of Texas star Vince Young was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Missouri City, Texas. According to police, Mr. Young admitted to drinking several beers before getting behind the wheel. He also apparently failed a field sobriety test. That doesn't mean much because there are no details on how he allegedly failed.

Mr. Young spent the night of the arrest in jail, was booked, and then released on $500 bond.

The arrest was not Mr. Young's first: He was arrested in January 2016 in Austin, Texas, as well. He pleaded no contest to that charge.

The incident highlights the prominent place that DWI arrests have in the news media and how damaging they can be for celebrities or public figures. Regardless of VU's presumption of innocence, he will never be acquitted in the media regardless of the outcome

Penalties for a Second DWI

If convicted, this new case would be Mr. Young's second DWI offense because he pleaded no contest to his first DWI charge and because the last conviction happened three years ago – well within Texas' 10-year look back period for DWI charges.

The penalties for a second DWI increase substantially from the penalties for a first offense: The law no longer presumes that you just made a mistake or a poor decision. Now there is a trend, and the legislature has decided the punishment should be much steeper – a Class A misdemeanor that includes:

• Up to $4,000 in fines
• Between 30 days and one year in jail
• A license suspension of between 180 days and two years.

This is why is it so important to fight a DWI charge in Texas, particularly if it is your first DWI charge.

Public Figures and DWI Charges

Public figures – whether they are football stars like Vince Young or politicians or police chiefs or upstanding members of their local community – suffer far more than individuals when they are arrested for DWI. As soon as an arrest happens, the media publicizes the event as a new spectacle. Well before the evidence comes in and the justice system moves forward with the case to determine if a DWI crime occurred, at all, the reputation of an arrested celebrity or public figure is in tatters.

The publicity that comes with these charges can change how best to respond. A vigorous defense can be essential to preserving your rights and your persona – but only if it is successful. Proclaiming your innocence and vowing to fight the charge will only salvage your reputation if the verdict at trial is that you were innocent or if the prosecutor realizes the weakness of the case and drops the charge. The media attention that would come with fighting a DWI charge and then losing at trial can make a difficult situation even worse.

This is why retaining one of Houston's best DWI lawyers works in your favor. You need a lawyer who is Board Certified in criminal law and Board Certified in DWI defense. Though there are only two such lawyers in all of Texas, Doug Murphy is one and he represents clients in and around the Houston metropolitan area.

Aggressive or Tactful DWI Defense from Texas' Doug Murphy

The style of defense should always take into account your personal situation and unique interests. When you have been arrested for DWI and have a reputation on the line, you need a DWI defense lawyer who knows when to stand firm, protect your rights, and fight to the bitter end, and when to handle the case quietly and with as much tact as possible. Call the law office of Houston's DWI defense lawyer Doug Murphy at 713-229-8333 or fill out his case evaluation form online.