On January 8, 2020, Jason Hines of 19439 Harry Town Ln. Vacherie, LA., age 45, pled guilty to DWI 4th Offense. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Hines was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert. This guilty plea stemmed from a 2018 hit and run crash investigation.
On December 8, 2018, deputies with the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to the Vacherie area after receiving a report of a hit and run. Deputies learned that a male subject identified as Jason Hines, who was driving a red ford truck struck another vehicle and fled the area. While deputies were responding to the area, deputies observed a vehicle matching the description of the red ford truck pulling into a convenience store parking lot. Deputies watched the driver exit the vehicle, walk to the rear, and examine the rear bumper of the vehicle. Deputies made contact with the driver of the vehicle who was identified as Jason Hines. While speaking to Hines, deputies detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person. Hines advised deputies that he had only consumed a couple of beers earlier in the day, however, deputies observed an open bottle of liquor and a styrofoam cup which contained suspected liquor in plain view inside the vehicle. Hines agreed to participate in a series of Standardized Field of Sobriety Tests which he performed poorly on. Hines was placed under arrest and transported to the St. James Parish Jail where he was given the opportunity to submit to chemical testing. Hines submitted to a breath test but was not able to follow directions to provide a proper sample. Deputies then applied for and were granted a search warrant for a blood sample from Hines. Hines was transported to a medical facility where a blood sample was obtained. The blood sample was submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis which determined that Hines had a blood alcohol concentration of .21g%. The legal limit in Louisiana is .08g%.
On September 9, 2020, Hines was sentenced to 25 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.