Fetner pleads not guilty to intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter

A man accused of causing death and injury while driving under the influence in February on a Texarkana street entered pleas of not guilty Monday to multiple charges.

Dewayne Gerald Fetner, 29, appeared for arraignment via Zoom videoconferencing before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. Fetner entered pleas of not guilty to intoxication manslaughter, intoxication assault and two counts of aggravated assault. Fetner's indictments also include notice from the state that it intends to seek a finding that Fetner used a deadly weapon -his car -when he collided with another vehicle.

Assistant Public Defender Clayton Haas entered pleas of not guilty on Fetner's behalf to all the charges.

First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said "negotiations have fallen through" with respect to a plea arrangement in the case and asked Tidwell to put the case on the court's trial docket once restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted. Tidwell said he expects jury selections may resume after June 1 albeit with some notable differences.

So that a panel of prospective jurors can physically distance themselves from each other and court staff, the county is exploring alternate venues that don't require potential jurors to sit shoulder to shoulder during the selection process. Courtroom jury boxes which typically have enough seating for 12 jurors and up to two alternates, don't allow for individuals jurors to sit six feet or more apart.

Fetner is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $1.2 million. He was arrested Feb. 22 by Texarkana, Texas, police who responded to the scene of a fatal crash in the 1100 block of South Lake Drive.

Fetner allegedly was driving erratically and a high rate of speed when he struck a maroon GMC Acadia with his blue Subaru Tribeca, according to a probable cause affidavit. A rear-seat passenger in the Acadia, Janet Bedford, 70, was killed. The Acadia's driver was transported to a local hospital and diagnosed with a broken hip.

Fetner allegedly admitted to using marijuana that day and methamphetamine the night before. Fetner was released to police custody after being evaluated at a local hospital the day of the crash.

If found guilty of intoxication manslaughter, Fetner faces two to 20 years in prison. Intoxication assault is punishable by two to 10 years. Each of two counts of aggravated assault is punishable by two to 20 years. The state is seeking a finding that Fetner used his car as a deadly weapon. If a deadly weapon finding is made, Fetner will have to serve at least half of any sentence he receives before being considered for parole.

Tidwell scheduled Fetner to return to court in June for a pretrial hearing.

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