On June 20, 2019, a jury convicted Mustafa Ozpay of Driving While Intoxicated. The 31-year-old Houston man was charged with the crime in 2015 after a citizen witnessed him wreck his car.
According to Assistant District Attorney Drew Kwartler, around 11 p.m. on December 28, 2015, a citizen witnessed Mustafa Ozpay driving recklessly on West Airport Blvd. in Sugar Land. The defendant eventually hopped a curb and struck a tree. The citizen called police and stopped at the accident scene. Officers shortly made contact with the defendant and immediately determined that Ozpay had been drinking. During the investigation, the defendant, who admitted he had drunk some wine, performed poorly on the standardized field sobriety tests.
“The evidence is clear; this defendant was intoxicated and never should have been driving,” Kwartler told the jury in his closing argument. “Despite the lack of a blood alcohol level, the jury considered the available evidence and found Mr. Ozpay guilty of Driving While Intoxicated.”
Ozpay was tried in County Court at Law No. 5 before Presiding Judge Teanna Watson. Driving While Intoxicated in this case is a Class B Misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail. In agreement with both the defendant and the State, the Court imposed a 15-month probation. Ozpay must also attend and complete a DWI Education Class and Victim Impact Panel.
Assistant District Attorneys Drew Kwartler and Ann Thomas prosecuted the case.