On The Sam Hunt Indictment for Drunk Driving
Pop country star Sam Hunt has now been indicted on drunk driving charges by a Davidson County Grand Jury. On November 21st, 2019, Sam Hunt was observed driving the wrong way on Ellington Parkway in Nashville—a principle highway in the eastern part of the city. Hunt was traveling south in the northbound lanes and swerving erratically when multiple witnesses alerted police.
“I’m calling because I was driving on 31E, and there is a car going the wrong direction on the highway,” said one 911 caller. “It was a black SUV. It was on 31E and Trinity. It was driving like there was nothing wrong, and it almost hit me head on. It was just … driving.”
Police initiated a traffic stop where they observed Sam Hunt had bloodshot eyes, and two empty beer cans near him. Instead of providing a Tennessee drivers license, Hunt tried to hand police a credit card and a passport. He also admitted to officers that he had been drinking “recently.” According to a police report, Sam Hunt’s blood alcohol level was .173—over twice the legal limit. Hunt was arrested, and later released from jail on a $2,500 bond, with an initial court date of January 17, 2020.
However, the January 17th date in front of Judge William Higgins at the Davidson County Criminal Court came and went without Sam Hunt making an appearance. The date was then rescheduled to March 17th, which was also delayed, resulting in some wondering when Sam Hunt would be forced to answer to the charges.
“Everything has just been delayed due to COVID,” District Attorney spokesperson Stephen Hayslip tells Saving Country Music. “They’re not having appearances. We don’t have any jury trials set until after January. Everything is just taking a lot longer process because of the situation in the courts.”
After many delays, Sam Hunt was formally indicted on December 10th, and the case has been set in criminal court, though no specific date for his next appearance has been set at this time. Though this move does not guarantee that Sam Hunt will ultimately enter a not guilty plea and attempt to fight the charges at trial, Hunt could have pled guilty earlier to avoid the formal indictment.
“He could have done that at the general sessions level,” Stephen Hayslip explains. “But if your going to fight it, it would go through general sessions, and then it would be given to a judge which would find probable cause, and then at that point it goes to the Grand Jury, they find an indictment, issue a true bill, and now it’s working its way to the criminal court level.”
December 19, 2020 @ 11:11 am
Hey Guys New Sam Hunt Song!
Body like a backhoe
Driving like an asshole
I can flip the bird with the back of my hand
Fifty in a thirty
I am really swerving
Soon my ass will be feeling a gland
December 19, 2020 @ 11:24 am
The “On” part of the title had me expecting some fun commentary but this seems like just the facts mamn.
As for me personally, this guy could have driven 70 through a farmers market on speedballs and I’d still listen. His music transcends…literally it’s the 8th wonder of the world.
December 19, 2020 @ 12:22 pm
Jake,
You are kidding aren’t you?
December 19, 2020 @ 12:40 pm
Ignore him He’s one of Sam Hunts trolls/Holster for Hugh Jampton
December 19, 2020 @ 1:56 pm
And proud of it. Mah boy rights the most athentic real shitz
December 19, 2020 @ 1:05 pm
I think this mugshot should be used as the main photo for any and all Sam Hunt-related articles from now on. LOL
December 19, 2020 @ 1:06 pm
Calling it the eighth wonder of the world isn’t the problem.
Calling it country IS.
December 19, 2020 @ 1:07 pm
Trig, any future article about how Ain’t Always the Cowboy was blocked from #1 spot?
It’s rare for artists to peak at #2 these days…. You’d think UMG Nash would spin it another week. But I get push weeks are determined weeks ahead.. But can’t things like this have an override switch? . A sign of lagging support for Jon? No one’s complaining, #2 is still amazing.. Am I looking too deep into this? Probably…
December 19, 2020 @ 2:50 pm
It’s part of their penance for torpedoeing Old Town Road.
December 19, 2020 @ 3:29 pm
Old Town Road peaked at like #50 on country radio. All thanks to Bobby Bones. No label sent it to country radio…. It was an independent thing, individual stations decided to spin it because it was #1 on Billboard all genres. No marketing
December 19, 2020 @ 1:14 pm
E’re body so uptight about driving after a few drinks these days. Heck, George J, Johnny C, Waylon, they couldn’t keep a car on the road if they were sober. The problem is these newbies like Sam C’Hunt just don’t understand the complexities of driving after a couple of six packs. Also, his cover of “There Stands the Ass”, country gold…..
December 19, 2020 @ 5:06 pm
All these fools sing about is getting drunk and then this happens. His music is bad enough to blow up the breathalyzer sober. I’m glad he was treated just like everyone else. I mean really. There is zero excuse today. Call Uber. Hell even Instacart would probably pick his drunk ass up.#dontdrinkanddriveasshole(s)
December 20, 2020 @ 1:35 pm
Why is this article on a country music website? This guy is the furthest thing from country.
December 21, 2020 @ 4:33 pm
no one hurt , thank goodness .
they got him off the road.
now if they can just get him off the radio .
December 22, 2020 @ 2:28 pm
Look, I hate this cum-suckers music, but this isn’t a big deal. We all drive drunk. A few months ago, I polished off a bottle of Wisers and 21 Coors lights, and I drove down the highway to get home. It’s not a big deal.