Judge Calls 19-Year-Old ‘Danger to the Public’ Before 60-Day DWI Sentence

JONESBORO, Ark. — A light moment in Zoom court quickly turned serious Wednesday when a 19-year-old Jonesboro woman appeared before District Judge Tommy Fowler on a second-offense DWI charge involving alcohol and marijuana.

Genesis Alexis Gomez, 19, was arrested at 3:22 a.m. June 17 by the Craighead County Sheriff’s Department. She appeared via Zoom from the Craighead County Detention Center on Friday for court. At the beginning of the appearance, she noticed a friend in the courtroom and excitedly greeted her.

Fowler then read the charges against Gomez, including DWI, second offense, a charge the judge said he takes seriously. Fowler warned Gomez that if she pleaded guilty, she would be sentenced to at least 30 days and could face up to one year in the county jail.

If she pleaded not guilty, Fowler said bond would be set at $10,000 cash-only, with the case continued to an August court date.

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During the hearing, Fowler said he found Gomez to be a “danger to the public.” Gomez claimed to the judge that her first DWI did not involve a positive breath test and said she believed the case involved an open container. Fowler told her he could not promise anything beyond the sentencing range without reading the report. The judge said he would only review the report if she pleaded guilty, to avoid prejudicing himself in the event she pleaded not guilty and the case proceeded to trial before him.

Fowler allowed Gomez to step aside and consider her decision while he handled other misdemeanor cases.

Gomez later returned and asked whether bond would still be set if she pleaded guilty. Fowler told her no, saying she was missing the point. She also asked whether she could tell her friend something, but by that time, the friend had left court.

Gomez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail on the DWI charge. She was also sentenced to 30 days on the remaining charges, with those sentences to run concurrently.

Fines and court costs were waived in lieu of jail time.

Fowler also ordered Gomez to be screened by a drug and alcohol counselor, follow all recommendations and complete a victim impact class.