A Hot Springs woman with 12 prior convictions for driving while intoxicated pleaded not guilty to a 13th DWI charge on Monday and was taken into custody in open court on a warrant stemming from the revocation of her suspended sentence from her last conviction.
Patricia Ann Clanton, 56, who lists a Malvern Avenue address, was released on $3,500 bond on March 26, the same day as her arrest, for DWI, seventh offense, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. She has six prior convictions within the last 10 years and 12 convictions lifetime.
She previously pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to DWI, sixth offense, on Jan. 12, 2016, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with eight years suspended, fined $900 and ordered to pay $300 in court costs.
On May 21, prosecutors filed a motion to revoke her suspended sentence noting she violated the conditions of her sentence when she was arrested again for DWI and she has also allegedly failed to make regular payments toward her fine and court costs.
A warrant for her arrest that was issued on May 22 was served in open court during her arraignment in circuit court Monday. Clanton remained in custody Tuesday on zero bond.
According to the affidavit on Clanton's March 26 arrest, shortly before 1 a.m., Garland County sheriff's Deputy Richard Garrett was on patrol when he saw a Chevrolet Monte Carlo pull into the parking lot of Buddy Bean Lumber Co., 3940 Malvern Ave., and stopped to check on it.
He made contact with the driver, identified as Clanton, and a female passenger, 49, as Cpl. Jon Lane arrived to assist. Lane noted a strong odor of intoxicants coming from the vehicle so they had the occupants get out. Clanton claimed she pulled over because her friend was having medical problems.
Lane attempted to administer field sobriety tests on Clanton, but she refused to cooperate. Clanton reportedly had bloodshot eyes, a strong odor of intoxicants on her person, slurred speech and was unsteady on her feet.
Clanton was reportedly "very belligerent" and wouldn't follow instructions. She did submit to a portable breathalyzer test, which registered her blood alcohol content at 0.179 percent, more than twice the legal limit.
Prior to her 2016 conviction, Clanton was previously convicted of DWI on Aug. 21, 1994, in Pine Bluff; on May 9, 1999, in Hot Springs; on Feb. 9, 2002, in Hot Springs; on June 22, 2002, in Rockport; on June 15, 2004, in Garland County Circuit Court; on Sept. 23, 2005, in Hot Springs; on April 4, 2008, in Hot Springs; on Oct. 10, 2011, in Pine Bluff; on Jan. 20, 2012, in Pine Bluff; on April 1, 2012, in Hot Springs; and on April 5, 2014, in Grant County.
Local on 06/06/2018