Repeat Offender Convicted of Impaired Driving
DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the DUI Unit obtained convictions against an impaired motorist driving recklessly near Montgomery Village. Jason Paul Starritt, 51, was convicted of Driving Under the Influence, Running a Stop Sign, Reckless Driving, and Open Container. Senior Judge D. Kelly Thomas set the case for sentencing on March 31. Judge Thomas also found Starritt in violation of the Implied Consent Law and suspended his driver’s license for one year.
In a one-day trial, Assistant District Attorneys Mitch Eisenberg and Leah Holley explained to the jury that on August 9, 2024, Knoxville Police Department Officer Brandon Holland observed a white Dodge Ram run a stop sign at the intersection of Daylily Drive and Joe Lewis Road in South Knoxville. The driver then squealed the tires and accelerated to jump the railroad tracks on Joe Lewis Road. When Ofc. Holland pulled the truck over, Starritt smelled like alcohol and there were two open twenty-four-ounce Twisted Teas in the cupholders. Starritt failed field sobriety tests and was arrested. Officers spoke to the passenger in the truck who stated that she had told Starritt that he should not be driving because he had been drinking. In the vehicle, officers found two more empty alcoholic beverages in a bag and a half-full bottle of Fireball whisky.
“Based on this offender’s criminal history, we will seek the maximum punishment at sentencing,” said DA Allen.
Driving Under the Influence is a Class A Misdemeanor that carries a maximum punishment up to eleven months and twenty-nine days in jail. The mandatory minimum for a DUI First Offense is forty-eight hours in custody with a $350 fine, DUI School, and a license revocation of one year. At sentencing, prosecutors will seek an enhanced sentence because Starritt has prior DUI convictions from over ten years ago. Starritt also has five prior felony convictions out of Blount and Hamblen Counties for Aggravated Burglary, Reckless Endangerment, Attempted Aggravated Assault, and two counts of Aggravated Stalking. Additionally, Starritt was convicted of assaulting a woman in Blount County while on bond for this DUI case. Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Lauren Ward and Legal Secretary Jennifer Stout aided in the prosecution of this case.
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.