A Shreveport man facing trial in Caddo District Court this week pleaded guilty to different charges of third-offense DWI and a separate pending charge of resisting a police officer with force or violence.

On Wednesday, August 10, 2022, one day after a six-person jury had been selected for one of the felony DWI trials in District Judge Ramona Emanuel’s courtroom, but just before opening statements, defendant Chad Presley Hays, 47, pleaded guilty to all charges.

Judge Emanuel immediately sentenced Hays on both of the DWI 3rd offenses: Five years in prison at hard labor, with at least one year to be served without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Hays also was sentenced to one year at hard labor for resisting an officer with force or violence, with six months in the parish jail in lieu of fines and court costs. The court ordered all of Hays’ sentences to be served concurrently.

Hays first was stopped for speeding late April 5, 2019 by Shreveport police, who smelled alcohol, despite Hays denying drinking. He refused all forms of testing for DWI but showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and reddened glassy eyes. Additionally, two bottles of 99 proof alcohol were in his vehicle. After his arrest, police learned that Hays had two DWI convictions within the previous decade.

Then on June 22, 2019, police again stopped Hays on suspicion of DWI. Again, he showed obvious signs of impairment, including a strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. He again refused all DWI testing and was subsequently arrested.

Then on February 1, 2021, Hays was asked by management to leave a Shreveport bar, but refused to do so. An SPD officer arrived on scene and attempted to handcuff him, but Hays violently resisted arrest, head-butting an officer in the process.

Hays was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Fernando Grider and Senae D. Hall. He was defended by Katherine Ferguson and Royal Alexander.