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From 15th Circuit District Attorney Keith Stutes

Assistant District Attorney Ronald E. Dauterive obtained a guilty verdict convicting Samuel Terracina of Third Offense Driving While Intoxicated.

Terracina was previously convicted in January 2004 in St. Landry Parish and in Lafayette Parish in December 2006 for Driving While Intoxicated.

Officers with the Lafayette Police Department stopped Terracina on a traffic violation on July 20, 2011, and he was subsequently arrested for Driving While Intoxicated Third Offense. Terracina was previously convicted in January 2004 in St. Landry Parish and in Lafayette Parish in December 2006 for Driving While Intoxicated.

Lafayette City Police Chief Jim Craft

The defendant presented expert witness testimony to attack the procedures used by Officer Tommy Aphaiyarath. The jury found that the Officer’s procedures were performed correctly affirming the proper training of Officer Aphaiyarath resulting in the jury conviction.

Judge Marilyn Castle ordered that Terrancina could remain out on his original bond but that he is to place an ignition interlock device in his vehicle. Judge Castle also ordered that a Presentence Investigation Report be compiled on Terrancina and will set a sentencing date after the report is completed.

According to the Daily Advertiser, Terrancina has more prior DWI convictions than the prosecutors have been counting.

“According to court records, Terracina was either convicted of or pleaded guilty to four prior drunk driving charges based on a December 2006 incident in Lafayette Parish, a July 2004 stop in St. Landry Parish, a May 1997 incident in Lafayette Parish and a November 1991 stop in Harris County, Texas.

In December 2006, Terracina was charged with his third OWI, but it was amended down to a second-offense OWI, which is what he pleaded guilty to, court records show. He was sentenced to six months in the parish jail. All but 48 hours was suspended.”