Serial drunk driver sentenced to 37 years

ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)-A serial drunk driver was sentenced to 37 years in prison this week after Ector County jurors convicted him on one count of Driving While Intoxicated Third or More, a third-degree felony. Ernest Marquez, who had previously convicted on two other felonies, was sentenced to 37 years in prison.

On April 20, 2022, officers with the Odessa Police Department responded to a call about a subject with a gun; that subject was later identified as Marquez. OPD said Marquez, who was driving a stolen vehicle, was pulled over during a traffic stop, but ran from the scene. Inside the stolen vehicle, officers found several paintball and BB guns as well as open beer cans.

When Marquez was eventually caught, he refused to provide a breath sample and failed field sobriety tests.

Kourtney Williams and Kelly Whitworth tried the case with the assistance of investigator Greg Palacios. The Odessa Police Department made the initial arrest and presented the case to the DA’s office for prosecution. Judge Denn Whalen heard the case in the 70th District Court.

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