District Judge Susan Weaver found former Conway Police Department officer Jason Davis guilty of a first offense DWI charge in a bench trial held Thursday at “Jack” Roberts District Court in Conway.
Davis was arrested in April of last year after police said he wrecked his vehicle at the main entrance of a Conway apartment complex.
According to police, Davis was found unresponsive in his vehicle, unaware that he had just been in an accident.
Officers noted Davis appeared intoxicated.
An evidence blood sample obtained from Davis at the time of the incident was thrown out of the case Thursday due to mishandling.
According to court testimony, the sample would not stand as evidence because the sample was not refrigerated while in official custody.
After police video from the time of the incident was reviewed in court, the guilty verdict was given.
Sentencing was delayed two weeks due to missing essential personnel.
Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland said he could not comment on the trial due to sentencing being delayed and the possibility of an appeal.
“We are satisfied with the outcome,” Hiland said.
Conway Police Chief A.J. Gary said in a press conference following Davis’ arrest that Davis was off duty and on administrative leave at the time of the incident.
Davis was fired from the department following the arrest, according to Gary, due to a previous and unrelated matter.
(Staff writer Courtney Spradlin can be reached by email at courtney.spradlin@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236.)
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Comments (23)
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the evidence sample was mishandled by whom??? his fellow officers, the lab? Shocking!!! And to think there's a chance he can get off on an appeal because of it. Scary to think he can go around ruining peoples lives when he was an officer giving out fake DWI's when people blew 0's, but he might possibly get off on appeal when he could have taken lives with his choice to drink and drive. Wow, that's justice for you. I pray that he gets the maximum sentence possible, and has no luck with any appeal. He definitely needs to pay.
Good morning, villager
I see that you spent your day yesterday in court since you're pontificating on magnitude of justice being dispensed there. Did you miss the part where the judge apparently said the word "guilty" and found him guilty? Did you want a not guilty?
seriously,
I guess you've never heard of anyone having a verdict reversed on an appeal. Why do you think he didn't just plead guilty in the first place. Gives him room for an appeal. Unless you've seen what he has done to someone personally, you will not understand where I'm coming from. He ruined someone's life for no good reason but to make himself get honors.
Yes, seriously.
And I guess YOU have never heard that a district court appeal to circuit court is a COMPLETE RE-TRIAL of the entire case. Nothing that happened at district court will have mattered.
Confused at your point
call me dumb, but I don't understand what the argument is about. Going to court again, there is a 50/50 chance of him being found NOT GUILTY. Yes I understand there is a COMPLETE RE-TRIAL, The evidence will still be tainted, How is that to change? Your comments are baffling me. I just want this to be over with once and for all and for the verdict to stand and he pay the price for his actions.
LOL
"I don't understand what the argument is about."
Because, angry poster must post angrily.
*thumbs up*
It only let me click it once.
I've heard stories about
I've heard stories about this. Him and Cameron being good 'ole buddies running around doing this.
That
That was the only case ever that a mistake caused evidence to be thrown out said no one with a ounce of damn brains ever.
Who's next?
So, fire the mishandler.