Garrido sentenced to four days in jail

AUSTIN (KXAN) - University of Texas head baseball coach Augie Garrido received a $500 fine, court costs and 180 days of driver's license suspension Thursday morning as sentencing for pleading guilty to a drunken driving charge Feb. 2.

Though the State of Texas recommended five days in jail, Travis County Judge Elisabeth Earle sentenced Garrido to four, minus time already served. He will also incur any court costs related to the case.

"Don't drink and drive," said Garrido. "It'll never be over. Now, it will be a responsibility to make good out of it and do good with it."

Earle, has heard man DUI cases and numerous excuses, but she commended Garrido for his actions after the arrest.

I've never had anyone step up to the plate, literally, and admit their faults and admit they've done something wrong," said Judge Elisabeth Earle.

She still handed down the sentence to a guilty man.

"He has a proven record for being a great coach, that doesn't mean he can get off light from it," said UT student Jimmy Graham. "So, him going to jail is probably a good thing."

That is part of the message the coach hopes to spread to others about the consequences for your actions.

"Do what's right," said Garrido. "I did what was wrong, and now I'm going to make it right by doing what's right. They [UT baseball players] did that all season."

Garrido was driving his Porsche SUV on West Sixth Street with the headlights off when police pulled him over around 1 a.m. Jan. 17.

According to his arrest affidavit, Garrido smelled strongly of alcohol. He had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and had trouble standing.

The report indicated Garrido told the officer he was drunk and downed five glasses of wine before failing a field sobriety test.

Garrido entered his 41st year as a head baseball coach at home during UT's four-game series with Illinois-Chicago as he served his university-imposed suspension for his DWI arrest and guilty plea.