Man gets 2 DWIs in 30 minutes

BY JIM MUSTIAN
THE DAILY IBERIAN
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 2:04 PM CDT

A New Iberia man was charged with his second and third driving while intoxicated offenses Fri-day night after he reportedly left the scene of two car crashes within 30 minutes of each other.

Sergio Vargas, 30, 507 Bayard St., had a blood alcohol level close to .24, or about three times the legal limit, said Capt. Wendell Raborn of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The first crash happened Friday night at the intersection of South Lewis Street and Admiral Doyle Drive, where Vargas lost the front bumper of his vehicle along with a Texas license plate, Raborn said.

Just a few minutes later, Vargas was involved in another crash on Admiral Doyle not far from his Bayard Street residence, Raborn said.

Vargas reportedly left the scene of the second crash as well and was found in the vehicle not far from the crash.

Vargas, who is from Mexico, was unable to prove Friday he is a legal resident and was charged with two counts of operating a vehicle without lawful presence in the United States, two counts of hit-and-run driving and second and third offense DWI.

Court documents show Vargas’ first DWI came in Iberia Parish just before Christmas in 2004. In May 2005, he pleaded guilty to the charge and was placed on one year of supervised probation. Vargas is being held on $125,000 bond in the Iberia Parish Correctional Center.

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Comments

OMG wrote on Apr 23, 2009 8:43 AM:

" Why are my comments not being posted? I have stated over and over again: His "wife" if that's we are calling her works for the Sheriff Department. Does anyone understand now? "

Bill wrote on Apr 22, 2009 12:38 PM:

" To Truth and others, this individuals DWI charges were dropped and he was released on a $10,000 bond. In IPSO's efforts to be over zealous, they messed up the paperwork and this illegal was let out to do this again. Way to go IPSO!!! "

D. Hertz wrote on Apr 21, 2009 10:34 PM:

" How bout you Reverend Raymond Brown.

Do you only engage in discussions concerning racism when the alleged "victim" is black?

How bout sticking up for this guy? "

D. Hertz wrote on Apr 21, 2009 10:33 PM:

" To all of you who have driven drunk, this guy just got caught. This easily could be you. "

Observer wrote on Apr 21, 2009 9:10 PM:

" Truth: Your comments were too informative. You claim to have been there which tells me you are a deputy. If that's the truth, how fair is it to the arrested man that his DWI reading is revealed here instead of court, where his guilt or innocence should be decided. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that evidence to a case that hasn't been proven? You chose to prove him guilty here instead. Where's justice now that you betrayed it? Remember Due Process? One more thing. You might wanna invest in a good spell checker. "

neworleanscajun wrote on Apr 20, 2009 8:00 PM:

" To Nanny A:
The fact that this man committed the crime of driving drunk is a separate issue of whether he is legal or illegal. He can kill and maim the same regardless of his citizenship or marital status. Drunk drivers kill well over 10,000 a year, not to mention those victims whose bodies are maimed and destroyed.
You are taking up for this criminal behavior because you KNOW the man? You are calling those who object to his crime NOSY and RACIST? The man needs to stop drinking, and you need to stop excusing him. "

Bbean wrote on Apr 20, 2009 4:02 PM:

" Sounds like he had a second chance! How many more chances do we give him? "

neworleanscajun wrote on Apr 19, 2009 2:02 PM:

" Truth:
Thanks for the input. God bless in the work that you do.

Readers:
You appear to be advocating drunk driving, and you're calling other people idiots??? My guess would be that either you DO know this character or you are defensive because you drive drunk yourself. Your time would be better spent taking basic English/spelling classes than polluting the forum with foolishness. Would you be writing the same nonsense if the guy had killed or maimed someone you cared about? Driving drunk is a major crime. Period. "

Naany A wrote on Apr 19, 2009 10:59 AM:

" We Need to stop being so racial and began do what JESUS would do.LOVE & SUPPORT.I know for a fact they got MARRIED because they got Married at my HOME.What do you tell their child she love her father,He just need GOD "

Nanny A wrote on Apr 19, 2009 10:48 AM:

" To All Of you NOSEY People who have nothing to do but Critize people you know nothing about.Before you can talk about someone you need to look at your past there is No Perfect people on this Earth. The only perfect person Died for our Sins over 2000 yrs ago.This man deserves a second chance he has a daughter and Wife.But this is not the issue itit because he is illegal. if he would be legal NO One would SAY A THING.does anyone know EXACTLY WHAT IS ALCOHOLISM IS.It is a Curse as well as a Disease Yes He Married "

Truth wrote on Apr 17, 2009 12:11 PM:

" Them all here until we have enough then voice your opinion. Till then they will continue to be here and in Morgan City illigially and out hands will be tied. Stop bashing the Sheriff and his men and women in uniform. It's due to people coming here and speaking their minds rather than writing it or calling our congressmen and representatives to make a valid complaint so that something can actually be done. Focus your voice in the right direction and be heard by people that can help rather than sturring bad caos here. "

Truth wrote on Apr 17, 2009 12:04 PM:

" As for the rest of you, We are doing our job the best we can. Its people like you who's perseption is wrong and give us a bad name. Our jobs are hard enough without having to come hear and read all the bashing and bad mouthing on things you really don't know the truth about. He will not be deported. Take that up with INS, not Ackal or his men. INS says we need nearly 100 in one shot before they will deport. If you can afford and want us to "

Truth wrote on Apr 17, 2009 12:00 PM:

" was involved in the 2004 case. He actually purchased it from a guy in Iberia Parish. He had two fake identifications although yes his american wife did show up and provide us with a good address on bayard street. We stayed in the area and he was actually found not in the car but in the area about 45 min after the crash scene was cleared. He did have a blood alcohol level very near .24. So for those of you that think you know the law, you need to study it more. "

Truth wrote on Apr 17, 2009 11:54 AM:

" To all of you, you are all wrong. I was there that night. The offense is two seperate crashes in which happened only about five minutes apart. Since it was two crashes, two diffrent locations, two seperate victims, he is charged with two DWI's. He was arrested after the second event that night due to the short time between the two crashes. He did not have insurance and yes it was a Texas plate and yes the car was his. He paid cash for it and it was not the same vehicle that "

Readers wrote on Apr 17, 2009 3:17 AM:

" You are all idiots that are badmouthing this man.Do any of you know him?Prolly not I don't either.Just because he didn't have papers on him to prove he was legal doesn't mean he doesn't have them.And it doesn't matter if the car was impounded in 04 they could have got it out.It could be under his wife's name. Duh. Do any of you think before you type.And think back how many of you typing here have went out and got drunk and drove?! "

DPharr wrote on Apr 14, 2009 3:21 PM:

" If I'm reading correctly, the article didn't say he IS an illegal alien, it said he couldn't PROVE he is legal. He has an American wife and a small child who was born here. He has problems, and because Ithere is more about the family situation than can divulged here, I am praying for Sergio, his wife, and their child. I do thank God no one was injured or killed and I know they are thankful also. Hopefully, this will open his eyes to see that he HAS to make a change in his life for the better. "

Lisa wrote on Apr 13, 2009 11:43 PM:

" You know I bet If it has a local person from the area or from any state in the united states. They would have arrested him and impounded his vehicle. I would love to know how the keep coming back time and time again? I am just glad nobody was killed with this drunk running all over the place. I say send hime back also. "

Lynn wrote on Apr 12, 2009 9:07 PM:

" I'm thinking "tb" might be this guy's "significant other" who went to school at NISH in 1997 and is on here lying about him. Irregardless of whether he's here legally or illegally, he, at the very least, should be locked up for a LONG TIME because of all these DWI's. "

Rick wrote on Apr 11, 2009 7:08 AM:

" As for payment to the victims, Welfare may not cover that and auto insurance just went up because of him. Who in the state is going to put the foot down on DWI's? Deporting him back won't solve the problem, he will end up back somewhere else. "

Rick wrote on Apr 11, 2009 7:00 AM:

" It goes to show you that the legal system is very esy to beat. Maybe if someone in the justice department looses someone in their family to a drunk driver they will get off their butt and make the system harder to beat. As for the illegals in the state of Louisiana, if Americans were not afraid of doing the dirty work or the labor work, we would not have companies going to Mexico for cheap labor. Get the physically fit and minded people off welfare and get your a... to work. "

truth seeker wrote on Apr 9, 2009 10:34 AM:

" No, he did not go to NISH with anybody in '96, '97,98, 99, or '00. He came here in '2001 by way of Port Arthur, TX. Second his signifcant other was a gradurate of '97 at NISH. Maybe this is where the mix up is. "

wayne wrote on Apr 9, 2009 9:19 AM:

" Lets face it, he be deported. Be in Morgan City or Avondale in a week after with a new identity. "

truth seeker wrote on Apr 9, 2009 8:52 AM:

" to Huh: Sergio is here illegally. He has no work VISA, and No GREEN CARD! This is not a rumor, this is fact! And NO, newsflash there are several immigrants that get picked up that are here illegally. They do there time and then they walk out the front door of the jail and go home! And second I sure his signifcant other has pull at her place of emplyoment, and that is why he walked out the first time! "

To T.B.V. wrote on Apr 8, 2009 11:23 PM:

" His "first incident" was in 2004, the article doesn't state whether his vehicle was impounded in 2004 back then. "

tb wrote on Apr 8, 2009 9:48 PM:

" He is not illegal, I went to school with this dude @ NISH in 1997. "

tiger 96 wrote on Apr 8, 2009 4:27 PM:

" In defense of the local judicial system, DWI 1st offense is a misdemeanor and the penalties in 2004 were less severe than they are today...finally, the legislature got a clue. Second, I have seen several judges stop court and call immigration officials to report illegals appearing on DWI charges. The response: unless they commit a felony, we "ain't" coming to get them. "

Huh wrote on Apr 8, 2009 2:35 PM:

" How do you know he was here illegally? Maybe he didn't have a permanent resident ID on him, doesn't mean he was here illegally. If he was charged in 2004, they would have done something then. Read the immigration laws before you start labelling. On the other hand, there are many people here that drive illegally, drunks that have had four or five DUI's and we don't say much about them. "

Da Berry not about race its about whats right wrote on Apr 8, 2009 10:57 AM:

" Here we geaux. Why has nothing been done about this persons presence in our country? He breaks the law several times over and where does that get him? A slap on the wrist, a finger shaking in his face with words like 'you can't do that here boy' and a threat maybe? He should have been in México long time ago. BUT NOBODY HERE WANTS TO BE THE BAD GUY! So ‘the illegal’ will. Geaux figure! SEND HIM & HIS HOME NOW! Use his own money and belongings to pay for it! "

To Cassie wrote on Apr 8, 2009 9:39 AM:

" Please read the article again, you misunderstood the progression of events. "

Truth Seeker wrote on Apr 8, 2009 9:32 AM:

" Why is my comment not being posted? Does the Daily Iberian not want the truth? Everyone is asking how and why Serigo is still here after his first offense. I told you why, but yet my comments are not being published? Why is that DI? "

T.B.V. wrote on Apr 8, 2009 9:01 AM:

" I agree with Cassie, he should have been arrested and his car impounded after the first incident, not allowed to drive away. And this was his SECOND and THIRD offense. My husband got his first (and only) DWI over 12 years ago and he was arrested and his truck was impounded. IPSO really dropped the ball on this one. "

gg wrote on Apr 8, 2009 7:57 AM:

" If you were in Mexico and got caught drinking and driving, you would go to jail for a very long time there. Maybe he is wishing for jail here, free food, free lodging, what could be better? "

To Cassie wrote on Apr 8, 2009 7:11 AM:

" You didn't understand, please re-read the article. According to the article, his first DWI was in 2004. The article states that on Friday (4-3-09) he got into an accident at the intersection of Admiral Doyle Dr. and S. Lewis St. and left the scene, then a half hour later got into another accident on Admiral Doyle Dr. near Bayard St. and left the scene of that accident also. He was found near the second accident, still in his vehichle, and was charged with all of the current offenses at the same time for both accidents that night. "

Bob wrote on Apr 8, 2009 7:05 AM:

" Only 1 of the 2 DWIs will stand. That just shows you how ignorant law enforcement is. Just because he left the scene of the 1st crash doesn't mean he's committing another DWI at the time of the 2nd crash. It's all one occurrence. Now, had he been arrested after the 1st crash, bonded out then drove a car and crashed again then he could be arrested for another DWI. "

Master Sparks wrote on Apr 8, 2009 6:08 AM:

" Proof once again that the DA's office is a joke. No more need be said, "

Lynn wrote on Apr 8, 2009 12:36 AM:

" I'd also like to know why it wasn't found that he was here illegally the first time he got a DWI. How is it that he is here illegally now and not then? Anyone know? "

Lynn wrote on Apr 8, 2009 12:35 AM:

" I'd like to know if the vehicle he was in this time is the same as the first DWI. It has Texas plates.....HUGE clue that he's from Mexico. I'd also like to know if this vehicle has insurance. It's PAST TIME to ship him back across the border...permanently!! "

spanishlake wrote on Apr 7, 2009 7:06 PM:

" Here is the worst part, if he wasn't here legally, he probably didn't have a drivers license. If he didn't have a drivers license, he couldn't get a car in his name. If he didn't have those, then he probably didn't have insurance either. Here he is like a thousand other illegals, and gets off without having to pay for any damages. Sure the judge will order him to pay for the damages, but does anyone believe he will? "

enforce laws wrote on Apr 7, 2009 6:31 PM:

" Let's see ... If he was illegal this time that means he was back in 2004 as well so how come was he allowed to stay here another 5 years? Someone is NOT doing their job and this is why we have so many illegals here in New Iberia! "

Stephanie wrote on Apr 7, 2009 4:21 PM:

" If they found he was illegal after the first accident, why they didnt sent him back ? Do you realize how many people he coud have killed in these 2 other DWI's?? I sure hope we are not stupid enough to keep him here in our jails. Send him home to Mexico where he belongs ! "

Sober wrote on Apr 7, 2009 4:10 PM:

" Ship the drunkard back to Mexico, what the heck???? Why is he still here? If he is an illegal alien PLUS a habitual drunk driver send him home. Don't crowd our jail and let our tax dollars feed him. "

RT wrote on Apr 7, 2009 4:03 PM:

" If people want to believe that some illegal immigrants have the right to stay here... FINE... but how bout shipping back this one? "

Jess wrote on Apr 7, 2009 3:56 PM:

" he left the scene of the first one -- got into the second crash and left the scene if i read this correctly.

Now they have him in custody and hopefully will be deported.

I feel sorry for the two crash victims. They are left to pay for this ILLEGALs mess. "

C.C. wrote on Apr 7, 2009 3:42 PM:

" Send him back to Mexico on a cantelupe truck. "

Cassie wrote on Apr 7, 2009 3:34 PM:

" I don't understand how he was able to drive after receiving the 1st DWI that night. He should have gotten arrested and had his vehicle impounded...that's crazy! It would have also prevented the second crash that night only miles away. "

lared wrote on Apr 7, 2009 2:42 PM:

" It's obvious he has no regards to life. Glad he did not kill anyone before he was apprehended. Another illegal immigrant who slip through the cracks. Been in New Iberia as for as we know of since 2004. Hmmm................. "

Jess wrote on Apr 7, 2009 2:33 PM:

" Wow, well how was he still legally here after the first one? And of course he didn't learn anything, he only got probation!!! "

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Man gets 2 DWIs in 30 minutes

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