02-05-2025
Felony DUI draws 3-year sentence
A Crossville area man with a dozen drunk-driving convictions on his record was sentenced to three years in prison with a parole eligibility date after 150 days of the sentence is served.
Christopher Dean Thomas has been in custody since his March jury conviction of felony DUI in connection with his Dec, 4, 2019, arrest by Crossville Police.
The jury — who took only about 20 minutes to convict Thomas — also fined him $2,500.
Thomas appeared for a sentencing hearing Monday afternoon and was facing two to six years in prison. State prosecutors were seeking four years in jail while defense attorney Randal Boston asked the court to consider two years.
Following the jury conviction, Judge Gary McKenzie found there was enough evidence to raise the DUI conviction to a Class D felony of fifth-offense driving under the influence. This was based on four convictions within the 20-year period set by the Tennessee General Assembly to be considered as enhancement.
Other convictions were older than the 20-year period.
Thomas' record, enhancement and mitigating factors were considered as McKenzie set the sentence Thomas will serve. Thomas should be eligible for his first parole hearing in late spring or early summer.
Crossville Police Sgt. Keith Sadula testified during the trial he conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Thomas on Dec. 4, 2019, leading him to being arrested on several charges.
Most of those charges were later dismissed or pled guilty to in Municipal Court.
