A Nebraska man was sentenced on December 27th for his fourth DUI conviction. Judge Steven K. Sharpe handed down a combination of probation and incarceration to the offender, pursuant to a plea agreement.
Abel R. Anaya, aged 27, has admitted to committing a fourth offense of felony DUI. This offense has a maximum punishment of seven years in prison. In light of a plea agreement, Anaya has received a two to five-year prison sentence, with only 90 days to be served behind bars. The remaining time will be spent under the supervision of three years of probation.
Judge Sharpe has ordered Anaya to serve 90 days at the Cheyenne Transitional Center (CTC) starting on January 8, 2025. Anaya will receive credit for the 21 days already served.
Anaya is required to pay $325 in court costs. However, due to the expenses associated with the CTC program and Anaya’s financial constraints, the public defender fees of $500 were waived.
On January 8, a rollover crash occurred at mile marker 12 on Wyoming Highway 215, leading to the charges against Anaya. Trooper Rebecca Monnett from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, who was the arresting officer, found Anaya’s vehicle overturned in a field upon arrival. Firefighters present at the scene detected the smell of alcohol on Anaya. As a result, Anaya was taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center for medical treatment.
During a search of the vehicle, Trooper Monnett discovered an open alcohol container on the driver’s side. Additionally, Anaya voluntarily provided a urine sample. As a result, Anaya was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), failure to maintain a single lane, and driving without a valid license.
Anaya has a history of criminal offenses, with three previous DUI convictions in Scottsbluff County, Nebraska. As part of the plea agreement, the charges of lane usage and driving without a valid license were dropped by prosecutors.