3 Doors Down Bassist Todd Harrell Arrested for DUI AGAIN
On the night of February 18, bassist and founding member of 3 Doors Down, Todd Harrell, was arrested under the suspicion of driving under the influence of a substance besides alcohol. This is the latest in a string of arrests for the musician and the charge is likely to be problematic in the other cases. Harrell was arrested in the same town in Mississippi in July, 2012 for driving under the influence or prescription drugs after rear ending another driver. He recently lost his appeal in that case and was sentenced. Under that sentence, Harrell would not have had to face jail time if he stayed out of legal trouble for six months and participated in court ordered victim's impact programs and a drug program. It is unclear if he had completed the court ordered programs in that case. Harrell is also facing charges in Tennessee relating to a fatal accident where he was also allegedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol. In that matter, he hit another vehicle while speeding down a Nashville highway, resulting in the death of the other driver. He participated in a rehabilitation program after that arrest but was still facing a trial for charges of vehicular homicide by intoxication among other crimes.
Three driving offenses which are all related to driving under the influence within a year and a half period, could very well end up resulting in jail time and long term loss of a driver's license for Harrell. The most serious offense is the one he is facing in for vehicular homicide. There it is considered a Class B felony for which he could serve up to 30 years in prison and lose his license for up to 10 years.
In Mississippi, he is facing additional harsh penalties for this latest arrest. That arrest will be considered to be Harrell's third since all three arrests happened within Mississippi's 5 year wash out period. For that, Harrell is facing a minimum of a year to up to five years in jail along with at least a five years suspension of his license. This is on top of the fines that he faces. It is yet to be seen what the judge in his first offense will do now that he has been arrested for another in violation of the terms of his settlement.
These sentences differ from those a three time offender would get in Florida. Here, for a third offense, he would face a minimum of 30 days in jail and loss of his license for a minimum of 10 years. Additionally, for the vehicular manslaughter charge, he would face a second degree felony charge for which he could get up to 15 years in prison.
