Jury Trial Cancelled after Plea Agreement Reached in Brazos County District Court over Gunfire and Drunk Driving Case
Brazos County, Texas, June 7, 2024
A Brazos County district court jury trial that was scheduled to begin this week was abruptly cancelled following a plea agreement in a case surrounding charges of gunfire and drunk driving. This infamous case dates back to the incidents that took place back in September of 2019.
Probation in Lieu of Prison Sentence
According to court records, the plea agreement was reached between the local district attorney’s office and 49-year-old Marcus Hammock of College Station. As part of the agreement, Hammock was handed five years of probation after a suspension of a ten-year prison sentence. This marks Hammock’s third conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI).
High Blood Alcohol Level, Positive for Cannabis
A spokeswoman from the DA’s office stated Hammock’s blood alcohol level was .082, edging over the legal limit, with a confidence interval of +/- .004. Moreover, Hammock’s blood also tested positive for the presence of cannabis.
No Community Service Due to Disability
Court documents indicated that Hammock was not required to perform community service due to a physical disability. His punishment was also influenced by him pleading guilty to, but not being prosecuted for, the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from the same incident.
Shotgun Incident Details
The DA’s representative reported that Hammock was not prosecuted for firing a shotgun into the floor of a home, which was done at the request of the victim for reasons unspecified. The plea agreement also stipulates that Hammock has forfeit his right to appeal the DWI conviction and the sentence that follows it.
Series of Dramatic Cases in Brazos County
This twisted case is just one in a string of dramatic events hitting the courtrooms of Brazos County. A former teacher at College Station’s International Leadership of Texas was denied a bond reduction and is currently held by Immigration Authorities on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a 12-year-old student. On a different note, June was declared Elder Abuse Awareness Month in the county as a response to over 120,000 reports of abuse involving older adults and residents with disabilities in Texas during 2023.
Acknowledgments and Moving Forward
Despite the challenging circumstances, local authorities, the judicial system, and the community at large are dedicated to keeping the residents safe and facilitating justice. While it remains to be seen how the county will be affected in the long term, for now, the goal is clear – to uphold law and order, and protect the rights and safety of its residents.