Ashdown man facing felony after 5th DWI arrest

Prosecutors are filing a felony DWI charge against an Ashdown man after he was arrested for a fifth offense in July.

According to records filed in the Little River Circuit Court last week, 55-year-old John Daniels of Ashdown has been formally charged with Driving While Intoxicated, 5th Offense. In Arkansas, four or more DWI violations within a 10 year period are upgraded to felony offenses.

Daniels was also charged with ignition interlock requirements for allegedly failing to maintain a breathalyzer unit in his vehicle, as well as driving on a suspended license – both misdemeanor offenses.

According to the arrest affidavit, Daniels was pulled over on July 14 after an Ashdown police officer alleged Daniels had failed to dim his vehicle’s bright lights. During the traffic stop, the officer reported finding an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and claimed he could smell alcohol inside. In addition, Daniels’ drivers license was suspended due to a previous DWI conviction in 2019.

Daniels was also convicted of DWI twice in 2016 and once in 2017. If convicted of a fifth DWI, the felony offense could carry a sentence of two to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.