A 29-year-old Twin Falls man was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail and placed on probation for four years for a felony conviction of driving while intoxicated.
Sentence for Sonny Dean Barkes was pronounced by Blaine County 5th District Judge Robert J. Elgee, who also gave Barkes a five-year suspended jail sentence.
Barkes was charged with a felony from an arrest in Blaine County on Nov. 2. According to court records, his blood-alcohol level was measured at near .21, which qualified for an “excessive DUI” charge since the level was above .20.
Barkes was also convicted in Twin Falls County of excessive DUI in 2013. Idaho law provides that a second “excessive DUI” charge within five years of an earlier excessive DUI conviction can be charged as a felony.
Barkes’ Nov. 2 arrest in Blaine County occurred at about 12:15 a.m. near the intersection of state Highway 75 and Buttercup Road.
Blaine County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Turner wrote in a probable-cause affidavit that he observed Barkes that evening southbound and driving erratically in a white 2002 Dodge Ram pickup with Colorado license plates. Turner wrote that Barkes was failing to maintain his lane of traffic and was driving at an excessive speed.
Turner further reported that the Sheriff’s Office received “multiple reports” at about that time of the Barkes vehicle being driven recklessly.
Turner wrote that Barkes was arrested because he smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech, impaired memory and glassy, bloodshot eyes and failed several field sobriety tests.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
Sonny Dean Barkes
