When a reality-television personality resolves a driving-under-the-influence case with a guilty plea, the headlines focus on the celebrity. For anyone actually facing a similar charge, the more useful question is what the plea itself involved — the negotiated dismissal of other counts, the probation terms, and the ignition interlock device that stays on the car for a year. Those are the moving parts that decide how a case like this reshapes a person’s daily life, and they work very differently under Texas law than they do in other states.

What Happened

Chase McWhorter, who appears on the streaming series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, pleaded guilty on July 16, 2026 to one count of misdemeanor driving under the influence in Utah, according to court records reviewed by Us Weekly. He was originally arrested on July 4, 2025 and charged with DUI, possession of cocaine, and driving on a suspended or revoked license, as Us Weekly reported.

Under the negotiated resolution, prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining counts — including the cocaine-possession charge — in exchange for the guilty plea. The court imposed a fine of roughly $1,383, 48 hours of community service, 12 months of probation, a recommended substance-abuse evaluation, and an ignition interlock device required to remain on his vehicle until July 16, 2027, per the same Us Weekly report.

This article is L & L Law Group’s general legal commentary on how a comparable charge would be handled under Texas law. We do not represent anyone involved, we have no inside knowledge of this case, and nothing here is a statement of fact about any individual. Every person accused of a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

DUI Versus DWI: Texas Uses Different Labels

The first thing to understand is that Texas does not primarily charge “DUI” for adult drivers. In Texas, an adult impaired-driving offense is charged as Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) under Section 49.04 of the Texas Penal Code. “DUI” in Texas is a narrower offense under the Alcoholic Beverage Code that applies to minors who drive with any detectable alcohol in their system. So a case labeled “DUI” in another state would, for an adult in Frisco or elsewhere in Dallas-Fort Worth, almost always be prosecuted as a DWI.

A first-offense DWI in Texas is generally a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in county jail and a fine of up to $2,000, before mandatory state fines are added. If the driver’s blood-alcohol concentration is 0.15 or higher, the offense is elevated to a Class A misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in county jail. Prior convictions, a child passenger, or an accident causing injury can push the exposure into felony territory.

How Texas Handles a DWI Plea Deal

Most misdemeanor DWI cases in Texas resolve through negotiation rather than trial, but the mechanics matter. Texas has historically been strict about DWI plea bargaining. Until relatively recently, deferred adjudication — the arrangement that lets many other Texas offenses avoid a final conviction — was not available for DWI at all. The law now permits deferred adjudication for certain first-time DWI defendants who do not have an elevated BAC, but it remains unavailable for repeat offenders and higher-BAC cases.

The dismissal-of-other-counts feature seen in the McWhorter resolution is common in Texas plea practice as well. Prosecutors frequently agree to dismiss a companion charge — for example, a drug-possession count — in exchange for a plea to the lead offense. But a Texas defendant should understand that a dismissed charge is not the same as an acquittal, and that the underlying arrest can still appear on background checks unless the record is later sealed or expunged where eligible.

Ignition Interlock Devices Under Texas Law

The ignition interlock device (IID) is where Texas is especially dedicated. An IID is a breath-testing unit wired to the ignition; the vehicle will not start if it detects alcohol above a low threshold. In Texas, interlocks appear at two separate stages of a case.

First, as a bond condition: under Article 17.441 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a court is generally required to order an interlock as a condition of bond for a second or subsequent DWI, and may order one for a first offense. Second, as a condition of probation or license reinstatement: Chapter 42A of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Transportation Code authorize and, in many repeat or high-BAC situations, require an interlock during community supervision and as a condition of restoring driving privileges. For drivers who need to keep working, Texas offers an occupational (essential-need) driver’s license, which frequently comes with an interlock requirement of its own.

The Administrative License Case Runs Separately

One trap that surprises many Texas DWI defendants is that the criminal case is only half of the fight. Texas runs a parallel Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process through the Department of Public Safety. If a driver fails or refuses a breath or blood test, DPS can move to suspend the license regardless of what happens in the criminal courtroom — but only if the driver requests a hearing within 15 days of receiving notice. Missing that deadline usually means an automatic suspension. This is why the timeline in a DWI case starts running immediately, long before the plea discussions that make the news.

Frequently Asked Questions

Would this be a “DUI” or a “DWI” in Texas?

For an adult driver, Texas would charge it as Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) under Penal Code § 49.04. The term “DUI” in Texas is reserved for drivers under 21 with any detectable alcohol.

Can a first-time DWI be kept off a permanent record in Texas?

Sometimes. Texas now allows deferred adjudication for eligible first-time, lower-BAC DWI defendants, and non-disclosure (sealing) may be available afterward in limited circumstances. Eligibility is narrow, and repeat or high-BAC cases are excluded. Each situation must be evaluated individually.

Is an ignition interlock always required after a Texas DWI?

Not always for a first offense, but it is frequently ordered — and for a second or subsequent DWI it is generally mandatory as a bond condition under Article 17.441, and often as a probation and license-reinstatement condition.

What happens to a companion drug charge?

As in many jurisdictions, a Texas prosecutor may agree to dismiss a companion count, such as drug possession, in exchange for a plea to the lead DWI charge. A dismissal is favorable but is not an acquittal, and the arrest record may persist unless sealed or expunged where the law allows.

How fast do I have to act on my license?

Very fast. In Texas, you generally have only 15 days from the notice of suspension to request an ALR hearing with the Department of Public Safety. Missing that window typically results in an automatic license suspension separate from the criminal case.

How L & L Law Group Can Help

A DWI charge in Frisco or anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is rarely just one case — it is a criminal matter and an administrative license matter running on two clocks at once, with interlock, probation, and long-term record consequences hanging on decisions made in the first two weeks. L & L Law Group helps clients understand the charge, protect their driving privileges, evaluate deferred-adjudication and dismissal options, and negotiate resolutions that minimize the lasting impact. If you or a loved one is facing a DWI or related charge in Frisco or the surrounding DFW courts, call us at (972) 370-5060 for a confidential consultation.

By Reggie London and Njeri London.