Drunk Driving and Death Threats

(GERING, Neb.) — A Scottsbluff woman was sentenced to jail Tuesday following a drunken-driving crash during which she allegedly threatened to kill police officers.

Donna M. Douville, 47, was sentenced by District Judge Miller after pleading no contest to three charges.

Scottsbluff police responded to a hit-and-run crash April 5. Officers found Douville in the driver’s seat of a parked red Ford Escape, with the keys in the ignition and an open bottle of beer in the cup holder.

According to reports, Douville smelled of alcohol, slurred her speech and had difficulty maintaining her balance. She refused sobriety tests and allegedly made multiple threats to kill officers while being transported to the hospital. A passenger confirmed that Douville had been driving during the crash after drinking, according to court records.

Under a plea agreement between defense attorney Hansen and prosecutor Winston, prosecutors dismissed felony charges of terroristic threats and hit-and-run.

Douville pleaded no contest to the following charges:

• Driving under the influence, first offense
• Third-degree assault (menacing) — two counts

Judge Miller sentenced Douville to 60 days in jail for the DUI and 90 days for each assault count. All sentences are to run concurrently.

Douville received credit for 27 days already served and was taken into custody to serve the remainder of her sentence. Her driver’s license was revoked for six months, and she was fined $500 plus $148 in court costs.