On May 30, 2015 Donald Middleton, 56, of Houston slammed into Joshua Hayden’s pickup on Fostoria Road. Hayden, 16, the son of Constable Rowdy Hayden was luckily uninjured. Middleton was arrested for his 9th DWI. Middleton had been at the intersection on Fostoria Road at Four Pines waiting for traffic to clear. He then made a left turn to head toward US 59, however he turned into the oncoming and struck young Hayden’s truck almost head-on. Middleton then ran across Fostoria Road to the Exxon Station where he tried to flee. Customers told him that he better not leave and told Middleton who he had hit. Middleton, extremely intoxicated said he didn’t care who he hit. He tried saying Hayden was speeding and had no headlights on and he did not see him. He then began to beg store clerks to hide him, which he could be heard on security video repeating 11 times. His blood alcohol was .184, more than twice the legal limit. When he was arrested he was surprised to learn that his driver’s license which he had not had with him in over two years was still valid. 
 
 Last week he plead guilty and elected to have Judge Hamilton of the 359th District Court pronounce sentence. With all his priors, his DWI’s were enhanced to a habitual offender. He can be sentenced anywhere from 25-years to life in prison. After his attorney appeared in court Friday morning almost 45-minutes late the punishment phase continued from Thursday. A Galveston Constable testified that he had to chase Middleton down in Galveston County as he fled. Middleton drove through a neighborhood, extremely intoxicated with children playing in the vicinity. He then drove through his front yard, jumped out and tried to run to the front door. He was talked by Constable Sharp and arrested. 
 
 While he was on bond for his 5th DWI he drew a 6th DWI. Middleton’s 7th DWI was in Magnolia in 2005 in which he got 2 years in prison. 
 
 On his eighth DWI he was on the North Sam Houston Toll Road intoxicated. He thought he was in the EZ Tag lane when he slammed into the back of a car with a family of three. They were stopped in line waiting to pay cash for their toll. He was able to plea to 13 years in prison for that dwi. The family suffered minor injuries. 
 
 The punishment phase of the trial started last Thursday. On Friday night Middleton himself took the stand at which time Judge Hamilton decided to continue on Tuesday as Middleton’s attorney Bill Cheadle stated it could take a while. 
 
 Tuesday afternoon at 1pm Judge Hamilton was ready to go. Middleton was on the stand waiting on his attorney so he could start his testimony. Again, his attorney Bill Cheadle was late and 45 minutes later the testimony began once he arrived. 
 
 Over the days Middleton’s family took the stand. His brother and sister told of his life. Middleton was recorded on jail telephones talking to his sister and not showing any remorse for what happened. He still tried to put the blame on young Hayden saying he was going 100 miles per hour and had no headlights. However, the video from the Exxon Station showed different. At one point he told his sister that when he got out he and 100 bikers were going to Splendora and take care of it. 
 
 In 1980 Middleton was admitted to Spring Shadows Glen for his alcohol abuse. But as his sister picked him up for a visit, she testified she could tell he was already on something. She also stated her father had been a drinker until he met her mother. The night they met, was the last drink she said her father ever had. 
 
 Through the entire testimony, Middleton seemed to try to place the blame on everyone but himself. 
 
 When his brother was on the stand, the attorney told him his brother could get 99 years. To this Middleton’s brother responded that 99 years was a joke. 
 
 Donald Middleton himself took the stand. He stated while attending MacArthur High School he was picked on and looked down on. Then in his freshmen year several students who drank brought him in with their group. From then on he drank. When asked why he never attempted to show remorse for the Hayden crash he said he was told not to do anything. He told Rowdy Hayden in the courtroom Tuesday that he was sorry but never said anything to Joshua Hayden who he had hit. 
 
 Middleton’s girlfriend Cheryl Latham took the stand and said she thought he could be rehabilitated. Latham said she knew he could give up driving as he didn’t like to anyhow and he could talk to groups. She had no answer when prosecutors asked what they would tell the next family after he killed a family member while driving while intoxicated with 9 priors and he was out on the streets. 
 
 It took Judge Hamilton about 30 minutes to render her decision. ||||| CONROE, Texas -- A Houston man convicted of drunken driving nine times since 1980 has been sentenced to life in prison. 
 
 The Montgomery County judge who sentenced Donald Middleton on Tuesday said the 56-year-old man is a habitual offender. 
 
 Middleton pleaded guilty last week to driving drunk in a May 2015 traffic accident. 
 
 Investigators say Middleton was arrested after he fled on foot after the wreck, ran to a store and begged the clerks not to turn him in. 
 
 Prosecutors say Middleton has already served four prison terms for alcohol-related convictions. ||||| Houston man gets life for 9th DWI conviction 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Photo: Montgomery County Police Reporter Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Image 1 of 38 Donald Middleton, 56, has been sentenced to life in prison for his ninth DWI. 
 
 Take a look at other Texans sentenced to life for driving drunk. Donald Middleton, 56, has been sentenced to life in prison for his ninth DWI. 
 
 Take a look at other Texans sentenced to life for driving drunk. Photo: Montgomery County Police Reporter Image 2 of 38 A Houston man's ninth DWI conviction has landed him in prison for the rest of his life. He had been racking up the convictions since 1980, according to reports. Donald Middleton, 56, had already spent at least four stints behind prison walls for his drunk driving convictions before he was arrested and charged in May 2015 for a new DWI charge in the Montgomery County area. less A Houston man's ninth DWI conviction has landed him in prison for the rest of his life. He had been racking up the convictions since 1980, according to reports. Donald Middleton, 56, had already spent at ... more Photo: Montgomery County Police Reporter Image 3 of 38 A Houston man's ninth DWI conviction has landed him in prison for the rest of his life. He had been racking up the convictions since 1980, according to reports. Donald Middleton, 56, had already spent at least four stints behind prison walls for his drunk driving convictions before he was arrested and charged in May 2015 for a new DWI charge in the Montgomery County area. less A Houston man's ninth DWI conviction has landed him in prison for the rest of his life. He had been racking up the convictions since 1980, according to reports. Donald Middleton, 56, had already spent at ... more Photo: Montgomery County Police Reporter Image 4 of 38 While the Lone Star State may not be all that tough on DWI offenders, there are still dozens of Texans serving life sentences for the crime. 
 
 See the offenders in prison for life for driving drunk. While the Lone Star State may not be all that tough on DWI offenders, there are still dozens of Texans serving life sentences for the crime. 
 
 See the offenders in prison for life for driving drunk. Photo: Lynne Sladky, STF Image 5 of 38 Bobby Gene Martin was sentenced to two life terms in prison after 10 arrests for drunk driving and a retaliation threat. was sentenced to two life terms in prison after 10 arrests for drunk driving and a retaliation threat. Bobby Gene Martin was sentenced to two life terms in prison after 10 arrests for drunk driving and a retaliation threat. Image 6 of 38 Lloyd D. Clayton - McLennan County Lloyd D. Clayton - McLennan County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 7 of 38 Samuel C Gentry - Smith County Samuel C Gentry - Smith County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 8 of 38 Donald William Snyder Jr. - Cass County Donald William Snyder Jr. - Cass County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 9 of 38 Blas Jr Hernandez - Ellis County Blas Jr Hernandez - Ellis County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 10 of 38 Billy Gene Reynolds - Johnson County Billy Gene Reynolds - Johnson County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 11 of 38 Ronald Smith - Gregg County Ronald Smith - Gregg County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 12 of 38 John William Spurlock - Leon County John William Spurlock - Leon County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 13 of 38 Ventura Gonzalez Silguero - Dallas County Ventura Gonzalez Silguero - Dallas County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 14 of 38 Dudley Krisshawn Hickman - Smith County Dudley Krisshawn Hickman - Smith County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 15 of 38 Jesse Marron - Harris County Jesse Marron - Harris County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 16 of 38 Michael Wayne Craig - Franklin County Michael Wayne Craig - Franklin County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 17 of 38 Robert Eugene Elsey - Williamson County Robert Eugene Elsey - Williamson County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 18 of 38 Rose Ann Davidson - Hays County Rose Ann Davidson - Hays County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 19 of 38 Steven Knight - Tarrant County Steven Knight - Tarrant County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 20 of 38 Jerry Lee Flores - Tarrant County Jerry Lee Flores - Tarrant County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 21 of 38 Gary Hayden Gibbs - Williamson County Gary Hayden Gibbs - Williamson County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 22 of 38 Cornelio Garcia-Mata - Comal County Cornelio Garcia-Mata - Comal County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 23 of 38 Dennis Kaye Goains - Montgomery County Dennis Kaye Goains - Montgomery County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 24 of 38 Albert Jimenez - Gaines County Albert Jimenez - Gaines County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 25 of 38 Martin Dominick Dicarlo - Williamson County Martin Dominick Dicarlo - Williamson County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 26 of 38 Kenneth Wayne Glover - Montgomery County Kenneth Wayne Glover - Montgomery County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 27 of 38 George Larry Harvey - Montgomery County George Larry Harvey - Montgomery County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 28 of 38 Daniel Villa - Lubbock County Daniel Villa - Lubbock County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 29 of 38 Jerry Dale Morgan - Hockley County Jerry Dale Morgan - Hockley County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 30 of 38 Richard King Morris - Henderson County Richard King Morris - Henderson County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 31 of 38 Kenneth Chris Oneal - Wichita County Kenneth Chris Oneal - Wichita County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 32 of 38 Roland Ramirez Delgado - Dawson County Roland Ramirez Delgado - Dawson County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 33 of 38 Billy Ray Handsell - Williamson County Billy Ray Handsell - Williamson County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 34 of 38 Michael Jay Barton - Smith County Michael Jay Barton - Smith County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 35 of 38 James Plamon Mcnatt II - Hunt County James Plamon Mcnatt II - Hunt County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 36 of 38 Luis Govea - Hays County Luis Govea - Hays County Photo: Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Image 37 of 38 
 
 Image 38 of 38 Houston man gets life for 9th DWI conviction 1 / 38 Back to Gallery 
 
 A Houston man's ninth DWI conviction has landed him in prison for the rest of his life. He had been racking up the convictions since 1980, according to reports. 
 
 Donald Middleton, 56, had already spent at least four stints behind prison walls for his drunken-driving convictions before he was arrested and charged in May 2015 for a new DWI charge in Montgomery County. 
 
 Even after all those run-ins with the law over drunk driving, the man still maintained a valid Texas driver's license. 
 
 RELATED: 10th DWI gets Texas man life sentence in jail 
 
 He had hit a 16-year-old driver head on in the most recent incident and later fled to a nearby gas station looking for a place to hide out, according to KTRK-TV. The teenager, the son of Montgomery County Precinct Four Constable Rowdy Hayden, survived the accident. 
 
 Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Justin Fowles told the outlet that Middleton pleaded guilty the same month as the accident, just a day before he was set to begin his trial. Judge Kathleen Hamilton sentenced him to life in prison this week. 
 
 RELATED: Spring dad charged with DWI after child falls out of moving car 
 
 According to the Montgomery County Police Reporter, Middleton took the stand during his sentencing proceedings and told the court that his drinking began as a freshman in high school after years of being picked on by classmates. The outlet reported that Middleton showed no remorse for his latest crash. 
 
 Middleton's girlfriend told the court later that she thought that he could be rehabilitated. 
 
 "To me there was no question that we needed to do everything that we could to ensure he wouldn't be on the roads driving with our friends, our families, our kids on the road putting everyone at risk," Fowles told reporters after the sentence was handed down. 
 
 According to Harris County court records Middleton was charged with his first DWI when he was 20 years old. He also faced charges in 1983, 1992, 1993, twice in 1997, 1999, and 2008. In 1993 he faced a separate charge of possessing crack cocaine. 
 
 Back in 1980 the punishment for DWI was a $200 fine and 60 days in jail.
– Donald Middleton of Texas has been gathering DWI convictions since Ronald Reagan was first elected president, and with nine to his name, he's now been sent to prison for life, per the Houston Chronicle. Montgomery County Judge Kathleen Hamilton issued the sentence to the 56-year-old Houston man on Tuesday after he had pleaded guilty last week to the ninth DWI, a May 2015 accident in which he smashed into a car driven by the 16-year-old son of Montgomery County cop Rowdy Hayden, CBS News reports. After the crash, Middleton—who authorities say veered out of his lane while trying to make a turn at a stop sign—reportedly fled the scene and tried to get a convenience store clerk to hide him; his BAC was said to be 0.184, more than double the legal limit, per the Montgomery County Police Reporter. He's already spent four other stints in prison for alcohol-related convictions, and KTRK documents all of his other DWI charges, starting with his first in 1980 when he was 20, per Harris County court documents. The MCPR notes Middleton testified during the punishment phase of his trial on Tuesday and said he had been teased in school and started drinking when he was a high school freshman. His sister says their dad had been a drinker until the night he met their mom (and then never touched a drop again). And Middleton's girlfriend even took the stand, noting she thought he could be rehabilitated and that he could easily give up driving because he didn't like it anyway. But the judge was obviously swayed by Middleton's apparent lack of remorse for hitting Joshua Hayden (who survived), as well as for his prior DWIs, and issued the life sentence. Rowdy Hayden thinks Middleton's sentence is more than appropriate. "For a habitual offender like this, he's proven that he cannot be rehabilitated," he tells KTRK. "And he should spend the rest of his life in prison." (Middleton isn't the first Texan to get life for drunk driving.)