A notorious southeast Texas land developer has pleaded guilty to drunk driving amid an ongoing investigation by state and federal authorities.
On Tuesday, William “Trey” Harris, who co-owns Colony Ridge with his brother, John Harris, pleaded guilty to two counts of drunk driving in connection with two separate incidents that occurred within the past seven months.
Harris was heading out to turn himself in for an unknown infraction, but on the way there he was confronted by several “fellow law enforcement officers” who escorted him to jail.
The first incident occurred on November 3, when Harris was arrested for misdemeanor DUI, the most serious Class A misdemeanor, due to his blood alcohol content exceeding .15. Legal Restrictions.
Three months later, Harris was arrested again and charged with misdemeanor DUI, but this time his blood alcohol level was not as high, so the charge was only punished as a Class B misdemeanor.
Harris was quickly released on bail after his second arrest, but was then arrested a third time on May 17, the day after his bail on the DUI case was revoked. Houston Landing He suggested the sudden bail revocation may have been because Harris “failed to appear in court or breached his bail conditions.”
His lawyer, Brian Cantrell, told the outlet that Harris turned himself in on May 16 for an unspecified offense, but encountered “fellow officers” on the way there, who escorted him to prison, where he has remained ever since.
Harris was sentenced to 45 days in jail, including time already served, and must pay a $12,000 fine and refrain from driving until at least November as part of a plea agreement signed with prosecutors. County Judge Tracy Sorensen later approved the agreement.
“He just wanted to get this problem resolved,” Cantrell told The Landing.
While Harris’ DUI case may soon be over, the protracted lawsuit against Colony Ridge is far from over. Residents of Colony Ridge, also known as the “world’s largest trailer park” and located about 30 minutes from Houston, have complained for nearly a decade about the development’s poor infrastructure and unsafe living conditions, The Blaze News reported earlier this year.
While local and county officials have done little to address the problems at Colony Ridge, the development is now facing a lawsuit from the United States. Department of Justice Texas Attorney General Ken PaxtonBoth lawsuits allege that the Harris brothers and others associated with Colony Ridge engaged in predatory and fraudulent lending practices, particularly victimizing undocumented immigrants, who make up at least 50 percent of Colony Ridge’s population.
Trey Harris’ brother, John, spoke with the co-founder of Blaze Media. Glenn Beck Blaze Originals’ documentary on Colony Ridge. To watch this and other Blaze Originals episodes, Blaze TV hereYou can watch the trailer for the Colony Ridge episode below.
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