A former Quinlan resident, on the run for more than seven years on a felony DWI warrant, has been returned to local custody.
Billy Don Braziel had apparently been living under an assumed name in Henderson County.
Braziel, 66, has a criminal record dating back more than four decades and had previously been convicted of murder.
Braziel had been held in the Ellis County Jail after being arrested in February in Palmer, but was returned to the Hunt County Jail Tuesday, where he is being held without bond.
Braziel was indicted by the Hunt County grand jury in April 2007 on one count of felony driving while intoxicated (DWI), meaning he was alleged to have two or more prior felony DWI convictions on his record. The indictment alleged Braziel was under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug or a combination or any or all three while driving on Dec. 13, 2006.
Braziel never showed up for his May 21, 2007 arraignment on the indictment. His $10,000 cash or surety bond was revoked and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
A new bond, upon Braziel’s arrest, was set at $10,000 cash only.
In April the company which held Braziel’s previous bond filed a motion with the 196th District Court, seeking to be relieved of liability under the bond, as Braziel had been arrested by police in Palmer on the outstanding warrant. Judge Steve Tittle granted the motion on April 10.
Court records indicate Braziel identified himself to officers in Palmer as Billy Don Brazil, who lived in Trinidad, Texas.