Texas Bartender Charged with Overserving Drunk Driver Who Caused Fatal Crash
When someone has too much to drink at a restaurant or bar and proceeds to cause a vehicle crash, it might not just be the driver who is in legal trouble. A bartender accused of overserving a patron who went on to kill a Euless police detective in a drunk driving crash was arrested and charged with a criminal offense.
On the night in question, Cala Richardson served eight double vodka/Red Bulls to Dylan Molina in less than three hours. Approximately 20 minutes after getting his final drink, Molina crashed his Jeep into a vehicle being driven by Alex Cervantes, an off-duty detective for the Euless police department. This was just a few minutes after he left the Lake Worth establishment where Richardson worked.
Cervantes was killed in the collision. His wife was in a coma for almost a month but survived. Their two sons were also seriously injured but survived. Molina pleaded guilty in January to intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the manslaughter count and 10 years for each assault count.
Richardson was charged with one count of sale to certain persons. This crime is part of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (TABC), which makes it illegal to serve alcohol to someone who is intoxicated. It is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and fines of up to $4,000. Sheriff’s records showed she was released from custody on a $1,000 bond while authorities continue to build the case.
Anyone accused of DWI or any other alcohol-related crime should take note of the way police gathered evidence in this case. They closely reviewed footage from the restaurant’s cameras reviewing Molina’s actions during the two hours and 50 minutes he was there. That’s how law enforcement knew the number of drinks he was served and how much time passed between each drink. In the footage, police could also see that Molina appeared to get progressively more intoxicated, eventually approaching people at the bar in a “belligerent” manner and “hugging and/or touching” someone he didn’t appear to know.
Video evidence is powerful. But it can be attacked in certain cases by an experienced criminal defense lawyer. An experienced lawyer may also be able to find weaknesses in other elements of a drunk-driving case, such as problems with breath test administration, unlawful stops and more. If you are accused of any crime involving alcohol, don’t plead guilty without talking to an attorney first, even if your breathalyzer reading was over the legal limit. Let the attorney analyze the situation and advise you of how to best protect your rights.
If you are accused of DWI, overserving a bar patron or any other alcohol-related crime in the Kerr County area, contact the Law Firm of Richard L. Ellison, P.C. for help. Call 830-955-8168 or contact me online to discuss your situation and potential defenses.