June Wreck Results in September Felony Arrest

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – The results are in and one Houston County resident is none too pleased. Jonny Joe Tunstall, 51, was arrested on Tuesday, Sept. 20 and charged with possession of a controlled substance – penalty group one – in an amount greater than four grams but less than 200 grams. The male subject was also charged with his third DWI.

The arrests stemmed from a one vehicle wreck which occurred in mid-June of this year. In two separate affidavits of probable cause filed on Sept. 13, it was stated, “On or about the 12th day of June 2016, the defendant (Tunstall) was involved in a one car accident located on FM 2022 in Houston County, Texas. (Department of Public Safety / DPS) Trooper Gary Reid was called to investigate. According to Trooper Reid’s Crash Report (Form CR–3 1/1/2015), the defendant, while operating (unit one) was traveling south on FM2022 – while under the influence of drugs – veered off the roadway on the east side and struck a tree with the center of the vehicle. Trooper Reid’s sketch of the crash depicts (unit one) crossing a double center traffic control stripe and a private drive before crashing into a tree.”

The affidavits further indicated, “During his investigation, a glass pipe commonly used to smoke illegal narcotics and two bags of (a) crystal like substance were found on the person of the defendant. The crystal like substance (evidence) was field tested for methamphetamine and returned a positive result. The evidence was then sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety Laboratory in Tyler, Texas where it was tested and returned a positive result for methamphetamine. Its net weight was 6.75 grams.”

Once the results were received by Houston County law enforcement officials, warrants were issued for Tunstall’s arrest. He was taken into custody on Sept. 20 and booked into the Houston County Jail on a second degree felony drug possession charge and a third degree felony DWI charge.

According to the Texas Penal Code, Section 12.33, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than two years.  In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Section 12.34 of the penal code states a third degree felony carries a range of punishment between two and 10 years as well as a fine of up to $10,000.

Tunstall is still held at the Houston County Jail and his total bond has been set at $30,000.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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