A Grants Pass resident was recently sent to prison after being sentenced for his sixth DUII in Hood River Circuit Court.
John Floyd Nevills, 40, was ordered by Judge Paul Crowley earlier this month to serve 30 months behind bars, the high end of the sentencing guidelines. He was also given a $2,000 fine and the court recommended that he receive treatment for an alcohol addiction. Nevills, who is a registered sex offender, has a criminal history of assault and other driving offenses, including four previous arrests for DUII from 1987 to 1996. In addition, he was cited for driving while intoxicated in Lane County just five hours prior to being involved in the June 14 rollover accident on Interstate 84 near milepost 48.
Deputy Prosecutor Shelley Webb said Nevills registered a .14 on the intoxilyzer at the time of his first citation near Eugene shortly after 11 p.m. on June 13. He then scored a .12 in Hood River at 5 a.m. the next morning.
“Mr. Nevills is the reason why we now send people to prison for DUII. The repeat offender who continually puts others at risk must be taken off the road,” said Webb.
Nevills’ wife, Christine, 29, was charged with recklessly endangering their 16-month-old daughter when she twice turned the wheel over to him. The first time he was pulled over Webb said Christine admitted to the state trooper that she had been too tired to drive so, knowing that John had been drinking, she asked him to assume control of the vehicle. After he was cited, Webb said Christine assured the trooper that she would be driving, but again decided she was too tired and asked John to operate the car once they reached Troutdale.
None of the family members were injured in the wreck. The child was taken into protective custody by a state family service agency. Webb said Christine has already pleaded guilty to the charge against her and has entered a diversion program to meet state parenting conditions and perform 40 hours of community service. According to Webb, Hood River County first allowed the Lane County case against Nevills to be resolved before it pursued a conviction.
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