HOUSTON -- Jurors found the Houston's mayor's daughter not guilty Wednesday in her driving while intoxicated trial, KPRC Local 2 reported. The panel deliberated for an hour and 20 minutes after hearing two days of testimony. The defense did not call any witnesses.
Elena White, 17, was arrested in the 9800 block of Memorial Drive last July after a deputy spotted her driving without her car's headlights on.
A Harris County deputy constable who helped in the arrest admitted to making at least nine mistakes out in the field that night during his testimony on Tuesday.
"This 17-year-old kid made less mistakes out there on the scene than the officers who were sober admitted to making," said Rusty Hardin, White's defense attorney. "Elena is very, very happy. She wants to revert to being a 17-year-old high school senior."
Deputies said White failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a Breathalyzer test. She was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.
Prosecutors asked that the jury not let mistakes in procedure decide the outcome of the trial.
"Because mistakes were made doesn't negate the way she looked out there, she spoke out there," a prosecutor said.
The controversial dashcam videos were not enough to get a conviction, officials said.
"I think in the end, the evidence and the video was probably the most importance piece of evidence, and I think they would have liked to see more footage," prosecutor Suzanne Elmilady said. "We respect their verdict."
The jury panel was made up of three men and three women.
Houston Mayor Bill White and his wife were in court for the verdict on Wednesday.
"Andrea and I love our daughter. She's a wonderful young woman and we greatly respect all participants in the criminal justice system," the mayor said.
"The foreperson told us in the jury room that if her teenage daughter just conducted herself half as well the next time she was in trouble, she would be very happy," Hardin said.
Defense attorneys and arresting officers agreed that Elena White never requested special treatment because of her father.
"I expect law enforcement, prosecutors not to give, serve important people, including myself, any special breaks into the system," Bill White said.
Elena White released the following statement.
"I thank my family and friends. I respect all participants in the justice system."
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