Festus, MO – A Festus man has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated after authorities say he was caught operating a vehicle under the influence last year.

Brian Edward Lee, age 60, of Festus faces a class D felony under Missouri law for allegedly driving while intoxicated on Sept. 18, 2024, near Route A and Burning Tree Lane in Jefferson County. The charge was filed under Cause Number 25JE-CR00663-01 in Division I of the 23rd Judicial Circuit.

According to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Lee is classified as an aggravated offender due to multiple prior convictions related to impaired driving.

Court records show Lee has at least three previous DWI-related convictions:

• A guilty plea in Festus Municipal Court for a 2004 DWI incident,
• A 2010 guilty plea for driving with excessive blood alcohol content in Jefferson County,
• A 2021 guilty plea for DWI–Persistent Offender for a 2017 offense.

As an aggravated offender, Lee is required to serve a minimum of 60 days in jail before becoming eligible for probation or parole if convicted.

The above charges are mere accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

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