Vegas man guilty in July 4th DWI crash
A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty to being intoxicated when he crashed a vehicle with four juvenile passengers on July 4, 2019.
According to a plea agreement filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court, Alexander C. Crowell, 29, pleaded guilty to aggravated DWI, improper restraining of a child in a vehicle and DWI with a minor in the vehicle.
Crowell initially faced four counts of child abuse along with DWI charges, but in an amended criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court in late July, charges were changed to one count of child abuse, four counts of DWI with a minor in the vehicle, three counts of improper restraining of a child, aggravated DWI and careless driving.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped the child abuse charge, three of the DWI with a minor in the vehicle charges, two of the charges for improper restraining of a child and the careless driving charge.
During a sentencing hearing, Crowell received a suspended jail sentence and credit for 39 days spent in the San Miguel County Detention Center following his arrest, but he will be placed on supervised probation for one year.
The court also ordered Crowell to have an ignition interlock device installed on any vehicle available to him, but his driver’s license was also revoked for a minimum of one year. Crowell is subject to random alcohol and drug screenings, and is not allowed to possess alcohol, non-prescription drugs or firearms.
Crowell was also ordered to complete 24 hours of community service, and he agreed to complete an additional 49 hours of community service to avoid paying $355 in court fees.
Crowell was arrested July 4, 2019, following an evening rollover crash on State Road 283, south of Las Vegas. According to police, Crowell admitted to drinking earlier in the day and to smoking marijuana. Court records show he also failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a breath test.
According to police, Crowell had four passengers under the age of 18 in the vehicle he was driving, and three of those children were not wearing seat belts.
At the time of the accident, New Mexico State Police spokesman Dusty Francisco told the Optic that one child sustained minor injuries.
