Oxford, MS – Nine defendants pled guilty on Wednesday, November 29th, 2023, to impaired driving offenses on the Natchez Trace Parkway in the Northern District of Mississippi. These convictions stemmed from the defendants operating motor vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The defendants were all sentenced to serve a term of probation.
United States Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi said, “Driving under the influence is a choice that needlessly endangers the lives of innocent people traveling on the Natchez Trace; we are thankful that these defendants were arrested before they could harm others or themselves.”
The National Park Service Rangers assigned to the Natchez Trace Parkway made the arrests in each case and prepared these matters for prosecution by the United States Attorney’s Office. “We are grateful for the work of the Rangers in helping to keep our roadways safe from impaired drivers” Joyner said.
Chief Ranger for the Natchez Trace Parkway Prashant Lotwala said “The law enforcement park rangers at the Natchez Trace Parkway are a dedicated group of individuals who ensure the parkway is as safe as possible for park visitors to enjoy a scenic, leisurely drive.”
The defendants who pled were:
- Caleb Agnew, Saltillo, Mississippi
- Geoffrey Allen, 30, McCool, Mississippi
- Daphne Barr, 27, Houston, Mississippi
- Derrick Brister, 32, Tylertown, Mississippi
- Angel Clements, 29, Tupelo, Mississippi
- Nathan Frank, Booneville, Mississippi
- Jocelyn Grimes, 21, Terry, Mississippi
- Fantasia Judon, 29, Pontotoc, Mississippi
- Asa Sewell, 36, El Dorado, Arkansas
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. prosecuted these offenses.
With the holiday season approaching, the Rangers of the National Park Service will be continuing their enforcement efforts to apprehend impaired drivers before they can endanger the public at large.
Impaired driving led to the deaths of more than 13,000 people in 2021, the latest year that statistics were available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
