STAFF REPORT
A San Antonio man was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted of intoxication assault, the Hays County District Attorney’s Office announced on April 28.
Richard Shelby, 38, was found guilty by a Hays County jury for the offense that occurred on Sept. 25, 2008, on IH-35 northbound in San Marcos.
According to police reports, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Steve Hoppas was in the process of issuing a routine traffic citation when his patrol vehicle was struck from behind by a pick-up truck driven by Shelby.
Hoppas, who was sitting in the patrol car at the time of the collision, suffered multiple broken bones in his leg as well as a torn ligament. After the crash, Shelby fled the scene on foot. He was located by officers with the Kyle Police Department approximately a half-mile from the scene, the release said.
A subsequent test showed that Shelby had a blood alcohol content of .13, well above the state’s legal limit of .08, investigators said. Shelby, who had no prior criminal history, was also sentenced to a five-year prison term for failing to stop and render aid.
Since it was determined that Shelby’s vehicle was used as a deadly weapon he must serve at least half of his sentence before attaining eligibility for parole. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Sydney Norris and Amy Lockhart with Judge Charles Ramsay presiding, the release said.
