By Patti Weaver
STILLWATER — A 38-year-old Stillwater man, who reportedly “told his girlfriend he was going to prison for eight years because this was his fifth DUI,” has been ordered to appear in court on Jan. 13 on a charge of drunk driving on Highway 33 and Greenbriar Lane in Perkins.
Cody Alan Wright was arrested at 11:01 pm on Nov. 1 by Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy Diego Gutierrez, who saw Wright’s vehicle severely swerving in the outside lane of the highway and “depart its lane onto the shoulder five times,” his affidavit alleged.
Wright, who was released on $10,000 bond from jail on Nov. 3, could be given as much as a 10-year prison term if convicted of DUI as a subsequent felony offense. He could also be incarcerated for six months if convicted of transporting an open container of beer plus one year if convicted of driving on a suspended license.
“While speaking with Cody, I received what seemed to be a smell of an alcoholic beverage and marijuana coming from him and the vehicle. I asked Cody if he had anything to drink or smoke that night. Cody stated he had not.
“Cody stated he was driving without a license, and he knew that was illegal, and told me to do what I had to do because he understood and knew what I was doing…. he told me he had warrants, other tickets and a history of DUI.
“I then informed Cody that I would be conducting a probable cause search of his vehicle based on the smell of marijuana I received from him and the vehicle. Before searching, I asked Cody if he possessed a medical marijuana card, and he shook his head no. Cody stated that I would find a beer can behind the passenger seat.
“Cody asked if he could call his girlfriend and arrange for his (child) to go to his (relative’s) house. While Cody spoke with his girlfriend, he told her he had been pulled over and was getting arrested for DUI. Cody repeatedly told his girlfriend he was going to prison for eight years because this was his fifth DUI,” the affidavit alleged.
According to court records, Wright was placed on two years’ probation in May of 2024 for drunk driving in Payne County in 2020. That same year, Wright was charged with DUI in Wagoner County for which in 2021 he was sentenced to jail for 20 weekends while on Drug Court which he completed in July of 2024. Wright had also been charged with drunk driving as a second offense in Tulsa County in 2015 for which he was place on three years of probation in 2016 under a deferred sentence.
