Midland Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Third DWI

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A 45-year-old Midland man, Manuel Nunez, has been sentenced to two years in state prison for his third driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense. Nunez pleaded guilty after being arrested in September 2025 for driving recklessly in a gas station parking lot, hitting dumpsters and running over parking cones with an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.

Why it matters

Repeat DWI offenders pose a serious threat to public safety on Texas roads. This case highlights the importance of strict enforcement and sentencing for those with a history of drunk driving convictions in order to deter future incidents and protect other drivers.

The details

On September 4, 2025, Midland County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call about a man, later identified as Manuel Nunez, driving recklessly in a gas station parking lot. Nunez had hit dumpsters and run over several parking cones with his vehicle. Upon investigation, deputies found that Nunez had an open container of alcohol in his car and was intoxicated. A criminal history check revealed that Nunez had prior DWI convictions in Louisiana in 2018 and El Paso County in 2022.

• On September 4, 2025, Nunez was arrested for the latest DWI incident.
• On January 29, 2026, Nunez pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated, third or more, in the 238th District Court.

What’s next

The judge's sentence of two years in state prison for Nunez's third DWI conviction is intended to hold him accountable and deter future drunk driving incidents to improve road safety in the Midland community.