by | Published
Dennis Lee Giddings, 58, was sentenced to 50 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice by a Kendall County jury after being convicted of Driving While Intoxicated – 3rd or More, a felony offense. The jury handed down the sentence on June 27, 2025, just two days after finding Giddings guilty. This marks his seventh DWI conviction.
The conviction stems from a crash that occurred late on July 4, 2024, when Giddings, while intoxicated, slammed his red Ford Fusion into the rear of a Boerne Fire Department ladder truck traveling northbound on the 500 block of Upper Balcones Road. The truck was returning from a structure fire call. Boerne Firefighter Gregory, who was driving the apparatus, reported that Giddings’ vehicle was speeding in the wrong lane, heading toward them head-on. Despite efforts to avoid the collision, the Fusion struck the back of the truck, shearing off a steel stabilizer foot. The truck remains out of service nearly a year later due to extensive damage.
Following the crash, Boerne firefighters attempted to render aid, but Giddings became immediately hostile, cursing and blaming them for the wreck. First responders noted a strong odor of alcohol coming from both Giddings and his vehicle.
Texas DPS Trooper Pennington responded to the scene and observed that Giddings had slurred speech, watery eyes, and was unsteady on his feet, using his vehicle for support. Giddings initially denied drinking, later admitting to "one beer." Officers later confirmed that he had attended a party in Sisterdale earlier in the day where EMS and law enforcement had already responded due to his intoxicated behavior.
Giddings refused to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and resisted arrest. It took the combined efforts of Trooper Pennington, Kendall County Sgt. Dudley, Deputy Zimardo, and EMS Administrator Webb to place him in handcuffs. During transport, Giddings remained combative and verbally abusive. At the hospital, he also refused to provide a mandatory blood sample.
A search of Giddings’ car revealed:
A half-empty 750ml bottle of vodka in the glove box
An empty bottle in the back seat
Three full bottles of liquor in the trunk
During sentencing, prosecutors Derly Chapa and Alessandra Deike presented Giddings’ extensive criminal record, which includes:
1985 (Bexar County): DUI conviction, 3 days in jail
1989 (Bexar County): DUI conviction, 2 years’ probation
1995 (Kerr County): DWI 2nd, 18 months’ probation (revoked, 60 days in jail)
1996 (Kendall County): DWI 3rd or more, 3 years in TDCJ
1997 (Kendall County): DWI 3rd or more while on bond and probation, 3 years in TDCJ
2001 (Bandera County): Aggravated Assault (pointed firearm at 61-year-old woman), 5 years in TDCJ
2004 (Kendall County): DWI 3rd or more while on parole, 5 years in TDCJ
2007 (Kendall County): Aggravated Assault (held knife to 11-year-old boy’s throat), 20 years in TDCJ
At the time of the July 4 crash, Giddings was on parole from the 2007 aggravated assault conviction. He also has a current parole hold from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and a pending charge of Resisting Arrest.
The case was investigated by Texas DPS, with assistance from the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and the Boerne Fire Department.
