Repeat Drunk Driver Convicted at Trial

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained convictions against a drunk driver with four prior DUI convictions whose blood alcohol content was still over twice the legal limit three hours after driving. Tinisha Nicole Spencer, 45, was convicted of DUI Fourth or Subsequent. Judge Scott Green set the case for sentencing on July 23 where Spencer faces a minimum of one hundred and fifty days in jail.

In a two-day trial, Assistant District Attorneys Oscar Butler and Joe Welker explained to the jury that on October 20, 2018, University of Tennessee Police Department Officer Michael Tomlin observed a vehicle driven by Spencer driving at a high rate of speed on Cumberland Avenue at 17th Street. Upon contact with Spencer, Ofc. Tomlin could smell a strong odor of alcohol. Spencer failed all field sobriety tests and refused to submit to a blood draw. Ofc. Tomlin then sought and obtained a search warrant for the Defendant’s blood to determine her blood alcohol content. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime lab tested the blood and determined that even after three hours, Spencer had a blood alcohol content of 0.18, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

“We are continuing to aggressively prosecute DUI cases because impaired driving can have such a devastating effect,” said DA Allen.”You cannot avoid prosecution by refusing to submit to a blood draw.”

Spencer has four prior DUI convictions in Knox County, Mississippi, and Louisiana. DUI Fourth or Subsequent is a Class E felony that carries a minimum punishment of one hundred and fifty days in jail, a $3000 fine, and license revocation of eight years.

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.