by | Published
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas - A San Antonio man with five prior driving while intoxicated convictions has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after a Comal County jury found him guilty of felony DWI, prosecutors announced.
Scott Christopher Helge, 53, was sentenced July 20 by Judge Bruce Boyer of the 22nd District Court after a jury convicted him on June 3 of driving while intoxicated with two or more previous convictions for the same offense.
Because of Helge's extensive criminal history, the offense was enhanced from a third-degree felony to that of a habitual offender.
According to the Comal County District Attorney's Office, Helge's criminal record includes five prior DWI convictions in Williamson, Travis, Harris and Brazos counties. Three of those convictions were felony DWIs for driving while intoxicated with two or more previous convictions, resulting in prior prison sentences.
The conviction stems from a Jan. 16, 2022, traffic stop in New Braunfels.
A New Braunfels police officer stopped Helge after allegedly observing him speeding on a motorcycle and running a stop sign.
Prosecutors said Helge denied committing the traffic violations, became argumentative with the officer and repeatedly attempted to justify his actions. Officers observed numerous signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, an unsteady gait and the odor of alcohol. Although Helge admitted drinking, he claimed he had consumed only one alcoholic beverage.
After being arrested, investigators said Helge became combative, resisted arrest and threatened officers. Jurors were shown body camera footage during the trial in which Helge repeatedly directed profanities and verbal abuse toward law enforcement.
A blood test later revealed Helge's blood alcohol concentration was 0.125, according to prosecutors.
On the day of sentencing, Helge also pleaded guilty to a separate felony DWI case involving another incident in New Braunfels.
According to prosecutors, officers responded to a disturbance in a parking lot on South Seguin Avenue near Oyster Bar and Bootleggers Pizza Parlor after witnesses reported an intoxicated man fighting with several women.
Witnesses identified Helge as the aggressor and told officers they had seen him driving erratically, backing the wrong way on the roadway, nearly striking another vehicle, hitting a curb and crashing into a parked vehicle.
Officers reported observing bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, a strong odor of alcohol and difficulty maintaining his balance. Although Helge admitted drinking, he denied being involved in a crash.
A subsequent blood test showed his blood alcohol concentration was 0.137.
Judge Boyer sentenced Helge to an additional 40-year prison term in that case. The judge ordered both sentences to run concurrently.
During the punishment hearing, Assistant District Attorney Cody Kent argued that Helge posed an ongoing danger to the public because of his repeated decisions to drive while intoxicated despite previous prison terms, probation, rehabilitation programs and other interventions.
Both cases were investigated by the New Braunfels Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Cody Kent and Jennifer Feldman, with assistance from District Attorney investigators Ashley Eicher and Jacob Starr.
Because Helge has been convicted and sentenced, the cases have been adjudicated.
