State v. Thomas

Darla Thomas appeals her DWI conviction, challenging the court's § 577.023 persistent-offender finding and the sufficiency of evidence "of a proscribed substance in [her] body," and alleging a speedy-trial violation.1

Background

When stopped for a traffic violation on May 27, 2013, Thomas was hostile and cussed the officer, a drug-recognition expert and field-sobriety test instructor at the police academy. Observing Thomas's dilated pupils and rapid fidgety movements, the officer suspected impairment and administered field-sobriety tests. Thomas failed four tests and passed one, *361the specifics…