Braxton County man arrested for felony driving revoked for DUI

BUCKHANNON – A Braxton County man was arrested Thursday for allegedly driving while his license was suspended for driving under the influence.

William White, 39, of Sutton, was arrested for DUI third offense, a felony.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Trooper Z.M. Lewis with the Buckhannon detachment of the West Virginia State Police, on Thursday, Nov. 4 at approximately 7 p.m., Lewis was patrolling the area near Route 20 and West Main Street. During patrol he saw a white truck without any taillights on, despite the requirement for them to be activated after sunset. Lewis conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and identified the driver as White.

Lewis asked White for his driver’s license, but White reportedly said he did not have one. Lewis asked White if his license was suspended or revoked to which White replied, “yes.” White then allegedly clarified that his driver’s license was revoked for driving under the influence, according to the report.

Lewis ran White’s name and information through the Elkins Communication Center and was notified that White’s license was revoked for DUI and had prior convictions of driving while license revoked for DUI. Lewis ran a criminal history background on White and saw two prior convictions for driving revoked for DUI. The first conviction date was Jan. 9, 2019, and the subsequent offense had a conviction date of Nov. 1, 2010, the file states. Both convictions occurred in Sutton, West Virginia, the report says.

Upshur County Magistrate Alan Suder set bail at $10,000 surety.

The penalty for a conviction of DUI third offense is confinement in the state penitentiary for not less than one year nor more than three years and, in addition to the mandatory prison sentence, a fine of not less than $3,000 nor more than $5,000.