Montoya-photo Pawnee Co.
PAWNEE COUNTY – A truck driver charged with drug offenses after an accident avoided prosecution this week and changed his statement in Pawnee County.
Javier Rubio Montoya, 45, of Horizon City, Texas, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and improper arrest or parking in a roadway, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.
In exchange for pleas, the state agreed to drop charges of escape and avoidance resulting in an accident and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In support of the plea, McNett advised the Court that if the matter went to trial, evidence would show that at approximately 3:00 a.m. on February 18, 2022, the law enforcement dispatch received a 911 call from a concerned citizen that there was a semi-truck with its lights on parked in the southbound lane of US Highway 183 in northern Pawnee County.
A Pawnee County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to the scene. It turned out that Montoya was the only occupant of the semi.
The deputy asked Montoya to follow him to a flatter location so their vehicles could be seen more easily by any oncoming traffic. When the officer pulled over, however, the semi continued southbound.
The deputy activated the hazard lights and started following the semi-trailer. After several miles the trailer began to sway erratically, hitting guardrails on both sides of the roadway, and finally stopped in the west ditch. No one was injured in the accident.
The deputy arrested Montoya on the spot without incident. Montoya informed the deputy that he fell asleep. Law enforcement officers conducted an inventory search before the semi was towed away, and a small amount of methamphetamine was found among the Montoya’s personal effects.
Montoya is expected to be sentenced on May 18, 2023. He remains free on bail.
