DUI driver sentenced to time served

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 20th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

WALLA WALLA – A Dixie man arrested for driving under the influence in November that caused a two-vehicle injury collision at State Route 125 and South College Avenue in College Place was sentenced Monday in Walla Walla County Superior Court for felony vehicular assault but will not do any additional jail time.

James P. Mathews, 42, was ordered to pay $500 in legal fees starting June 1 and is no longer in jail. According to court documents, he was sentenced to 3 months in jail, but received 128 days for time already served. He will serve 12 months in community custody.

On November 29, 2021, Mathews was traveling northbound on the highway, then crossed into the southbound lanes and struck another vehicle. Both cars were totaled and the driver in the other vehicle was injured.

According to court documents, Mathews admitted to a Washington State Patrol trooper he injected heroin twice and smoked methamphetamine in the hours leading up to the accident.