by | Published
PORT LAVACA, Texas - A Calhoun County jury found Kerry Ladon Price, 59, of Victoria, guilty February 11, 2026, of Driving While Intoxicated – Third or More, and a judge later sentenced him to 45 years in prison.
Price elected to have the presiding judge, the Honorable Julie C. Bauknight of the 267th Judicial District Court, determine his punishment if convicted. Following the presentation of punishment evidence, Judge Bauknight sentenced him to 45 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The conviction stems from a June 3, 2025, welfare check initiated by employees of Dow Chemical who found Price unresponsive and slumped over in the driver’s seat of his vehicle. Testimony showed that Price briefly moved to the backseat before returning to the driver’s seat and pulling onto State Highway 185 into oncoming traffic, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision. He later drove into a Dow parking lot, where security personnel blocked his vehicle until law enforcement arrived.
Officer James Easley and Chief Cheyenne Beaver of the Seadrift Police Department responded. Officers testified that Price smelled of alcohol, had vomited inside the vehicle and displayed slurred speech and impaired coordination. Price refused field sobriety, breath and blood tests.
Driving While Intoxicated – Third or More is typically punishable by two to 10 years in prison. However, prosecutors presented evidence that Price qualified as a habitual offender, raising the punishment range to 25 years to life or 99 years.
Court records showed Price had seven prior DWI convictions—three misdemeanors and four felonies—as well as additional convictions for automobile theft, robbery and possession of cocaine. He had previously been sent to prison six times.
Judge Bauknight remarked that Price had accumulated approximately 66 years of prior sentences related to DWI offenses and noted he had been fortunate not to have caused a fatal crash. She stated she hoped the 45-year sentence would deter further offenses.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorney Arnold Hayden and Criminal District Attorney Sara Rodriguez. The Calhoun County Criminal District Attorney’s Office credited Officer Easley, Chief Beaver and Dow Chemical employees for their response and cooperation.
