A man was sentenced to life in prison after 11 previous convictions of driving while intoxicated, the Randall County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday, July 15.
According to the DA, Raymundo Ayala was convicted of Driving While Intoxicated (3rd or more) on July 14.
In Texas, a third or subsequent DWI offense is generally a third-degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
However, during the punishment phase, the jury learned that Ayala had 11 prior DWI convictions and had previously been sentenced to prison on six of those offenses. Because his history, Ayala was found to be a habitual offender, increasing his punishment to a range of 25 years to life in prison. When Ayala testified, he claimed he had accumulated so many DWI convictions because he was “unlucky.” After hearing all the evidence and arguments, the jury returned a verdict of life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The latest case stems from a traffic stop on Aug. 9, 2025, after a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper saw Ayala commit multiple traffic violations. During a traffic stop, the Trooper recognized signs of intoxication and ultimately arrested Ayala for driving while intoxicated (3rd or more).
During the trial, the State Trooper testified about his observations and explained how the traffic stop developed into a DWI investigation. The trooper also told the jury that he obtained a search warrant to collect a blood specimen from Ayala. A forensic toxicologist later determined that Ayala had a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.213 — more than two and a half times the legal limit of .08.
Additionally, the jury heard evidence of Ayala’s two prior DWI convictions, which elevated the offense to a felony. After considering the evidence, the jury quickly returned a guilty verdict, the DA said.”This was the first time Ayala had been arrested for a DWI in Randall County, and our office was committed to ensuring it would be the last. Ayala was ‘lucky’ that his repeated decisions to drive while intoxicated did not result in the loss of innocent lives,” the DA said. “Driving While Intoxicated continues to endanger our community, and this sentence sends a clear message: those who repeatedly choose to drink and drive will be held accountable.”
Kristina Wood is managing editor of the Amarillo Globe-News, whose coverage includes Amarillo and Canyon, and into the Texas Panhandle. Have a story idea? Send it in at newmedia@amarillo.com .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Repeat Randall County DWI offender sentenced to life in prison
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News | USA TODAY Network
