DUI Career Offender Convicted at Trial

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained a conviction today against a career offender with six prior DUI convictions. Following a two-day trial, John Palladin Gibson, 43, was convicted of his seventh offense of Driving Under the Influence. After the jury returned their verdict, Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on August 11.

At trial, Assistant District Attorney Joe Welker explained to the jury that shortly after midnight on September 13, 2013, Officer Joseph Sulewski with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from the clerk at the Pilot gas station on Campbell Station Road. The clerk called 911 because Gibson was intoxicated and was trying to use someone else’s credit card. When Ofc. Sulewski arrived, Gibson was attempting to drive away from the gas pumps. Gibson admitting drinking a six-pack of beer and a Long Island Iced Tea. He failed field sobriety tests and submitted to a blood alcohol test that revealed his blood alcohol content to be 0.08 ninety minutes after the traffic stop.

“”My Office aggressively prosecutes DUI cases because of the dangers impaired drivers pose to the people of this community,”” said DA Charme Allen.””Thankfully, because a concerned citizen called 911, officers were able to stop Gibson before anyone was injured.””

At sentencing, Gibson is facing a six-year sentence because he is a Career Offender. He has thirteen prior felony convictions for Aggravated Burglary, Forgery, Theft, drug, and DUI offenses. The jury also assessed a fine in the amount of $10,000. In addition to the sentence imposed for the DUI offense, prosecutors will also file to have Gibson declared a Habitual Motor Vehicle Offender, making it a felony offense for Gibson to operate a motor vehicle. Under a new law that takes effect on July 1, DUI Sixth and Subsequent Offense will be a Class C felony with a punishment between three and fifteen years depending on the defendant’s range.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.