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Court convicts Sandra Gaetan on DWI count; suspends 3'year sentence and places defendant on probation with conditions
Summary
In the 187th District Court, Sandra Gaetan entered a plea and the court found her guilty of DWI (third or more), imposing a suspended three-year sentence with multiple probation conditions including portable monitoring, regular UAs, and a two-year driver's license suspension.
Sandra Gaetan pleaded no contest in the 187th District Court to a third-or-more driving while intoxicated charge and the court adjudicated her guilty before imposing a probationary sentence and multiple conditions.
During plea colloquy, the court advised Gaetan of the statutory range for a third-or-more DWI and the consequences of her plea, including potential imprisonment of two to 10 years and a fine up to $10,000. The plea called for punishment to be assessed at three years, with the state recommending community supervision and an ignition interlock requirement for half the term and a two-year driver's license suspension.
The court accepted the plea and, after hearing from defense about the defendant's participation in AA meetings, completion of a victim impact panel and use of a portable alcohol monitoring device, the judge sentenced Gaetan to a three-year prison term suspended and probated for four years with conditions.
Key conditions imposed on probation include daily sober support meetings, a TAP evaluation and possible referral to felony drug court, field visits once per month for four months, electronic monitoring (GPS) for 10 days with installation no later than March 21, requirement to wear a portable alcohol monitoring device and an affidavit of non'driving while device is used, 100 hours community service or parenting classes (completion of parenting course to satisfy service hours), random UAs, proof of employment within 45 days, and a two-year driver's license suspension.
The judge warned Gaetan against substance use and ordered that the device and reporting conditions be strictly enforced. The transcript records the court telling Gaetan, “If you have issues going on in your life, all you have to do is pick up the phone and tell probation.”
Probation will supervise Gaetan for the length of the term set by the court and will enforce conditions including the ignition interlock or portable monitoring and the driver's license suspension. The court cautioned Gaetan that the affirmative family-violence or other specific findings (where applicable) would carry additional prohibitions, and that violation of terms could lead to revocation.
Court clerks were instructed to ensure GPS installation and the portable monitoring device were completed within the ordered timeframe and to record the probation terms in the case file.
