A former Major League Baseball player from Texarkana was indicted by a Cass County, Texas, grand jury last week in connection with an allegedly alcohol-related crash in 2015.
Phillip Douglas Norton, 40, was indicted on three counts of felony intoxication assault related to a Nov. 1, 2015, crash on U.S. Highway 59 north in Queen City, Texas. Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper John Prosperie reported that Norton smelled strongly of alcohol and showed signs of intoxication in his eyes. Prosperie arrested Norton for alleged intoxication assault with serious bodily injury, according to a probable-cause affidavit used to create the following account.
The three occupants of the car Norton hit were injured and required at least several days of hospitalization. At least two of the injured suffered broken bones.
Norton allegedly voluntarily agreed to submit a sample of his blood for testing. Analysis by the DPS Crime Laboratory in Tyler, Texas, allegedly revealed a blood alcohol level of .156. Drivers are considered impaired at a .08 blood alcohol level.
Norton attended Pleasant Grove High School. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds during his major league career from 2000 to 2004.
Intoxication assault is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in a Texas prison. Norton's case has been assigned to 5th District Judge Bill Miller. Cass County Assistant District Attorney Courtney Shelton is handling the case for the state.