A chronic drunken driver who has been convicted five times for DWI has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.

State district Judge Mollee Westfall assessed Stephen Andrew Hall’s punishment late Wednesday afternoon—about two hours after a jury convicted him of felony DWI.

Hall, 59, of Fort Worth, must serve a quarter of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

During the trial prosecutors Erin Cofer and Keith Harris presented evidence that shortly before 2 a.m. on July 22, 2011, Hall was stopped by River Oaks police for failing to properly stop at an intersection.

As soon as the officer approached the driver’s side window, Hall stated: “I’m so under arrest.”

Hall admitted having two beers and said, “I’m guilty.” A mandatory blood draw two hours later revealed his blood alcohol concentration was .18—more than two times the legal limit.

Jurors deliberated just four minutes before convicting him of felony DWI.

Hall, who represented himself, elected to have the judge assess his punishment. Because he was a habitual offender, he faced from 25 years to life in prison.

Prosecutors presented evidence about his four prior DWI convictions— and that he had already been to prison for felony DWI. They also presented evidence that he had been previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated robbery.

After Judge Westfall sentenced him to 45 years in prison, Hall matter-of-factly told her that he considered her punishment to be “pretty weak.”

The judge replied that she took into consideration his age and the circumstances in his life in determining her sentence.

Melody McDonald

Public Information Officer

Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office

401 West Belknap

Fort Worth, TX 76196

817-884-3120 (direct)

817-821-3935 (cell)

mjmcdonald@tarrantcounty.com

 Twitter: @TarrantDAOffice