Eight Mississippians and one Arkansan have pleaded guilty to impaired driving offenses on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
The convictions stemmed from the defendants operating motor vehicles under the influence of drugs or alcohol, resulting in the nine individuals being sentenced to serve a term of probation.
“Driving under the influence is a choice that needlessly endangers the lives of innocent people traveling on the Natchez Trace,” U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi said. “We are thankful that these defendants were arrested before they could harm others or themselves.”
The National Park Service Rangers assigned to the Natchez Trace Parkway made the arrests in each case and prepared these matters for prosecution by the United States Attorney’s Office.
“The law enforcement park rangers at the Natchez Trace Parkway are a dedicated group of individuals who ensure the parkway is as safe as possible for park visitors to enjoy a scenic, leisurely drive,” Chief Ranger for the Natchez Trace Parkway Prashant Lotwala explained.
The defendants who pled were:
- Caleb Agnew, Saltillo, Mississippi
- Geoffrey Allen, 30, McCool, Mississippi
- Daphne Barr, 27, Houston, Mississippi
- Derrick Brister, 32, Tylertown, Mississippi
- Angel Clements, 29, Tupelo, Mississippi
- Nathan Frank, Booneville, Mississippi
- Jocelyn Grimes, 21, Terry, Mississippi
- Fantasia Judon, 29, Pontotoc, Mississippi
- Asa Sewell, 36, El Dorado, Arkansas
With the holiday season approaching, the Rangers of the National Park Service will be continuing their enforcement efforts to apprehend impaired drivers before they can endanger the public at large.
Impaired driving led to the deaths of more than 13,000 people in 2021, according to the latest year that statistics were available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Editor’s note: Ages have not yet been provided for Caleb Agnew and Nathan Frank. This story will be updated when that information is released.
