BALTIMORE, MD – After only ten minutes of deliberation, a Baltimore City jury found defendant, Jose Luis Navarro Guevara, guilty of driving while intoxicated (DWI), speeding, and negligent driving in reference to a traffic stop that occurred in January 2019.
Assistant State’s Attorney from the Misdemeanor Jury Division, Matthew Matera, successfully prosecuted this case.
On January 11, at just after 1 a.m., an officer with the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) pursued a vehicle traveling on Interstate 95 at 100 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. The officer followed the vehicle as it crossed over three lanes to pass a group of slower moving cars. After excessively speeding for several miles, eventually reaching 109 MPH, the vehicle abruptly slowed to 50-55 MPH.
The officer conducted a traffic stop, identifying the driver as the defendant. As he spoke with the driver, the officer observed that Guevara’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot. The driver told the officer that he had two beers at Horseshoe Casino hours before, yet the strong odor of alcohol on his breath was still there.
Guevara was then asked to exit his vehicle and perform a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) to determine the extent of his impairment and if there was probable cause for arrest. Once outside of the car, Guevara changed his original statement to the police and was subsequently arrested after his SFST scores confirmed his impairment.
“The defendant’s extraordinary disregard for human life and public safety that night could have easily become catastrophic. I am extremely thankful that no one was harmed,” said State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. “Negligent driving is a criminal offense and anyone who does not respect the law will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Guevara is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24th.The defendant currently has another pending DUI case in Montgomery County.
