On Wednesday, October 28, 2015, Taney County Circuit Court Judge Laura Johnson accepted a guilty plea from TRAVIS JOHNSON, d/o/b 8-10-1987, of Taneyville, to the class D felony of driving while intoxicated. Johnson’s trial was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, but he avoided the trial by admitting his guilt, without any plea agreement with the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office concerning what sentence he will receive. Judge Laura Johnson scheduled the sentencing for December 17, 2015.

The evidence against Johnson was that, on March 1, 2013, deputies with the Taney County Sheriff’s Office noticed a van traveling on Forsyth-Taneyville road crossing into the oncoming lane of traffic multiple times. Deputy Darin Carter made a traffic stop, and identified the driver as Travis Johnson. Johnson seemed dazed and slow to respond to questions, and the deputy could smell the odor of intoxicants coming from the vehicle. Throughout the investigation – including the administration of field sobriety tests – Johnson had a difficult time following instructions and showed multiple signs of impairment. Johnson admitted that he had been drinking alcohol and stated that he was drunk. A breath sample revealed Travis Johnson’s blood alcohol content to be 0.143%. Johnson’s two small children were present in the van at the time of the stop, as well as another adult passenger.

Because of his two (2) previous guilty pleas to misdemeanor D.W.I., Johnson was charged as a persistent D.W.I. offender – a class D felony. The maximum sentence Johnson faces is up to four (4) years in prison and/or a $5,000.00 fine.