MONTGOMERY, TX — As 25 News previously reported, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough turned himself into the county jail for DWI charges on Dec 9. Today, Judge Keough has accepted a plea deal and will have his license suspended for 90 days, and be required to pay $2,000 in fines.
Citing sleep-aids, the 67-year-old judge's arrest warrant was issued for DWI charges back in Sept for a Class B Misdemeanor on first offense, involving both a deputy constable and another vehicle.
According to the arrest affidavit, Keough had 155.5 nanograms of Ambien in his system at the time of the crash; 50 nanograms is reported to cause driving impairment according to said affidavit.
The accident occurred along Grogan's Mill Road in The Woodlands where Keough crashed into a Montgomery County Precinct 5 deputy, and a third car.
Keough was driving 52 mph at the time, 22 over the 30 mph speed limit, when he first crashed into the third car.
In the arrest affidavit, Texas Department of Public Safety investigators say they found Keough unresponsive on the scene with his eyes closed. Keough was ultimately hospitalized for several days undergoing surgery to repair his pelvis.
This was Keough’s second major traffic collision in the past three years as an elected official.
In March 2017, while the District 15 State Rep, Keough's Lexus SUV collided with a flatbed truck at an Austin intersection. It's unclear what caused the accident. However, either Keough's vehicle, or the worker truck, passed over the centerline of the undivided roadway. The report states that Judge Keough was seen slumped against the side window of his car before the collision. Despite local doctors' suspicions, Judge Keough denies suffering a stroke at the time.
In line with State law, Judge Keough will continue to serve as the county judge as the misdemeanor plea does not raise his offense to the point where he must be removed from office.
