Repeat DWI Offender Sentenced To Nearly 3 Years

JOHNSTON COUNTY — A Princeton man has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges stemming from two consecutive days of impaired driving, including a high-speed chase that put the public at serious risk.

On August 28, Chief District Court Judge J. Franklin Wood sentenced Jose Guadalupe Moreno Sanchez to a minimum of 33 months in prison for felony speeding to elude arrest, two counts of driving while impaired (DWI), and driving while license revoked for an impaired driving revocation.

The charges followed two separate incidents in March, both involving reckless and intoxicated driving. On March 21, 2025, State Trooper Colby Hall arrested Sanchez on Martin Livestock Road near Princeton after receiving multiple reports from concerned motorists. Sanchez was operating a tan Chevrolet pickup and was found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.18—more than twice the legal limit.

Less than 24 hours later, Trooper Hall responded to similar reports involving the same vehicle. This time, Sanchez led officers on a high-speed pursuit along US 70 near Wilson Mills Road, reaching speeds of up to 80 mph and driving off the roadway multiple times.

Recognizing the immediate danger to the public, Trooper Hall, along with Sergeant Nathan White and Trooper Dean Gray, successfully deployed stop sticks and executed a rolling roadblock to bring the chase to a safe conclusion. Sanchez was again found to be intoxicated, registering a BAC of 0.17.

Assistant District Attorney Keith Gordon prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of North Carolina. Following the sentencing, District Attorney Jason Waller praised the efforts of the law enforcement officers involved.

“High-speed chases by impaired drivers with law enforcement endanger both the officers involved and the public at large and will not be tolerated,” Waller said. “Keeping our roadways safe is one of the top priorities of our office. The Johnston County District Attorney’s Office extends its gratitude to Trooper Colby Hall, Sergeant Nathan White, and Trooper Dean Gray for putting their own lives at risk to protect our citizens and ending this dangerous situation without anyone being killed or injured.”