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Beau Hollis WCSO Booking Photo
A Sentinel man could spend the next 12 years behind bars following his arrest on impaired driving and drug-related charges last month. Beau J. Hollis, 36, was arrested Jan. 25, 2020, in a Cordell parking lot and charged with one felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Officer Trenton Maisano of the Cordell Police Department was patrolling on Main Street at roughly 1:00 a.m. when he noticed a vehicle parked in the lot of a vacant building. The car’s engine was running and the headlights were on. The driver, later identified as Hollis, was unconscious in the front seat.
Upon approaching the vehicle, Maisano noted Hollis’ chest rising and falling in a normal rhythm, with no obvious signs of trauma. He also noted the smell of alcohol coming through the open driver’s side window and noticed an open can of beer in the front cup holder.
Maisano was eventually able to wake Hollis, who stated he was on his way home from the casino. When questioned, Hollis reportedly told Maisano he had consumed “about a six pack.” The officer then asked when he’d started drinking, to which Hollis replied “about five or six.” When Maisano asked when he’d stopped drinking, Hollis again said, “about five or six.”
Maisano then performed standard field sobriety tests, which Hollis was unable to successfully complete. Maisano then arrested Hollis and secured him in the rear of his police cruiser. Upon searching the vehicle, Maisano found and confiscated two glass smoking tubes, both containing what appeared to be, and later field tested as, marijuana.
Hollis was taken to the Washita County Justice Center where he was tested with the county’s Intoxilyzer. His first breath sample recorded his breath alcohol concentration at .13. The second test, administered three minutes later, gave a .12 result.
If convicted on the impaired driving charge, which is a felony due to a previous DUI conviction, Hollis could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. Each of the misdemeanor charges carries a maximum potential sentence of one year.