GALVESTON – On Tuesday afternoon, a Galveston County jury sentenced Gerardo Diaz Deleon to 25 years in prison for the felony offense of driving while intoxicated, third or more.
On Cinco De Mayo weekend of 2024, Texas City officers responded to a call about an individual passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle at Mall of the Mainland. Officers located Diaz Deleon in the driver seat with an open bottle of alcohol in the vehicle. Once they were able to wake him up they observed signs of intoxication. Diaz Deleon was arrested and later indicted for driving while intoxicated, third or more, a felony.
Trial began Monday. Assistant District Attorney Quinten McConico presented body camera video showing Diaz Deleon admitting to drinking throughout the evening and driving. The jury also learned that Diaz Deleon’s blood test results showed his blood alcohol concentration was over four times the legal limit. Tuesday, the jury found Diaz Deleon guilty of driving while intoxicated, third or more.
During the punishment phase, the jury learned Diaz Deleon had five previous convictions for driving while intoxicated, beginning in 2004, resulting in two previous prison sentences. While testifying during punishment, Diaz Deleon lost track of how many DWI convictions he actually had. McConico argued to the jury that Diaz Deleon had picked up DWI’s in three different decades, in three different counties, and has been given enough chances.
The jury sentenced Diaz Deleon to 25 years in prison Tuesday, after deeming him a habitual offender.
The Galveston County Criminal District Attorney’s Office commends Texas City Police Department for their work in this case. Assistant District Attorney Joseph Bayer assisted in the trial.
State of Texas vs. Gerardo Diaz Deleon, Cause No. 24-CR-1694, 56th Judicial District Court, Honorable Lonnie Cox, presiding.
