A woman in Dawson County was arrested after it was discovered that she had given alcohol to a minor, resulting in a car accident that left the teenager dead.
Drunk Driving Crash in West Texas
The Texas Highway Patrol (THP) arrested 30-year-old Jessica Moncallo on May 11 after she purchased alcohol and gave it to a 16-year-old just one month prior. After receiving the alcohol, the minor got into their vehicle and crashed along County Road 18.
Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Department of Public Safety
The teenager was pronounced dead after the single-vehicle crash: no other injuries or damage to other vehicles were reported.
Toxicology reports after the fatal accident revealed that the 16-year-old had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.081%.
In Texas, drivers over the age of 21 may operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or under; however, there is a zero tolerance for minors (under 21) who consume any amount of alcohol and choose to drive.
Moncallo was booked into the Dawson County Jail for furnishing alcohol to a minor that left one dead. The investigation is still active, and you can visit the Texas Department of Public Safety website for more information.
Furnishing Alcohol to Minors in Texas
In Texas, adults providing alcohol to minors is a serious offense, especially when it can result in instances like what happened in Dawson County.
According to the law offices of Cofer & Connelly, there are some exceptions to this offense. For example, if the parents or legal guardians are in the visible presence of and consent to the minor consuming the alcohol. Another exception is for certain religious or medical instances.
Penalties for furnishing alcohol to minors in Texas are treated as a Class A misdemeanor, which means spending up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4,000.
Read More: Misdemeanor Vs. Felony: Breaking Down Texas Law
Offenders may also be required by the judge to perform community service, attend alcohol awareness programs, or have their driver’s license suspended.
To see the full list of defenses against this charge as well as other information on how Texas handles cases like these, visit the Cofer & Connelly website.
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Gallery Credit: Nick
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