by | Published
Comal County, TX - On October 31, 2025, Visiting Judge Dan Mills sentenced Patrick Norman Didion, 56, of Round Rock, to life in prison following his conviction by a Comal County jury for Driving While Intoxicated with two or more previous convictions of the same offense. The jury also made a deadly weapon finding, determining that Didion had operated his vehicle in a manner capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.
At the sentencing, Judge Mills addressed Didion directly, saying, “The day of reckoning has shown up. I don’t see any reason to afford him any more opportunities to get out on the road and drive and kill somebody. I don’t enjoy doing this, but I think it is for the safety of the community that he should be given a life sentence.”
The case originated on January 1, 2024, when New Braunfels Police Department officers were dispatched to the southbound frontage road of IH-35 North in reference to a possible road rage incident. A 911 caller reported that Didion, driving a Toyota Tacoma, suddenly pulled out in front of his vehicle, forcing him to brake hard and causing damage to equipment in the truck bed. The caller described how Didion then put the vehicle in reverse and drove the wrong way against one-way traffic before stopping behind his truck and aggressively approaching the caller, saying, “Come on, hombre.” Officers noted the smell of alcohol on Didion’s breath.
Didion initially claimed he was driving from Austin to San Antonio on a “work errand” but became increasingly uncooperative and hostile toward law enforcement. Field sobriety tests confirmed intoxication, with officers observing difficulty maintaining balance, swaying while standing, and failing coordination tests. Didion refused a breathalyzer, prompting officers to obtain a warrant for a blood draw. Laboratory testing revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.214—nearly three times the legal limit in Texas.
During trial, the jury heard from the 911 caller, NBPD Officer Sylvia Powell, and a Department of Public Safety criminalist who analyzed Didion’s blood. Body-worn camera footage was played, showing Didion swaying, failing the field sobriety tests, verbally aggressive behavior, and repeatedly stating that this was his seventh DWI and that he would go to prison for life. Officer Powell testified that Didion admitted, “I can’t do that [expletive] sober,” during the tests.
The prosecution highlighted Didion’s extensive criminal history spanning three decades, which included prior felony DWIs, assaults, family violence, and threats toward law enforcement and women. Previous convictions in Bastrop, Travis, Williamson, and Hays counties demonstrated repeated violent and reckless behavior. Despite this record, Didion had received only limited jail time and probation for prior offenses, with the longest sentence being five years for combined felony convictions.
Evidence introduced during the punishment phase included:
Six prior DWI convictions across multiple Texas counties.
Assault and family violence convictions.
Testimony from Austin and Round Rock police officers describing combative behavior during prior arrests.
Victim testimony from women previously involved with Didion, describing physical abuse and threats.
Court judgments showing Didion’s status as a habitual offender, which enhanced his sentencing range to 25 years to life.
During closing arguments, the prosecution emphasized Didion’s awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and his repeated disregard for public safety. Body-worn camera footage showed Didion knowingly committing his seventh DWI, highlighting his conscious choice to continue endangering others.
The Comal County jury imposed a life sentence, reflecting both the severity of Didion’s actions and the danger he posed to the public. The Comal County District Attorney’s Office commended the dedicated efforts of NBPD Officers Sylvia Powell and Juan Santos, along with officers from Austin, Round Rock, and Hays County, whose testimony and investigative work were critical in securing the conviction.
Judge Mills’ sentence and the jury’s decision underscore the consequences for habitual offenders who repeatedly engage in violent and reckless behavior.
