Repeat Impaired Driver Convicted after Passing Out at Liquor Store

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit secured convictions today against John Dwayne Henry, 50, for Driving Under the Influence (Fourth or Subsequent Offense) and Driving on a Revoked License. After Henry waived his right to a jury trial and submitted to a bench trial, Judge Steve Sword found Henry guilty of all charges.

At trial, Assistant District Attorneys Jordan Murray and Joe Welker explained to the Court that around 5:30 PM on September 20, 2014, Knoxville Police Department Officers Adam Barnett and Jeff Damewood responded to a 911 call that Henry was passed out in his vehicle behind Southland Wine and Spirits at 211 West Young High Pike in south Knoxville. Officers observed empty beer cans and prescription pill bottles in the vehicle. The pill bottles belonged to Henry, but the pills had not been taken as prescribed. Henry failed field sobriety tests and submitted to a blood draw. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime lab found Henry’s blood alcohol content to be 0.201, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

“With growing prescription and opiate drug abuse in our community, we have seen an increase in the number of impaired driving cases involving both alcohol and opiates,” said DA Charme Allen.”People need to be aware that drugged driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving, especially when you combine the two.”

Driving Under the Influence (Fourth or Subsequent Offense) is a Class E felony carrying a punishment between one and two years. Judge Sword set the case for sentencing on August 21.

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.