Joplin man sentenced to five years for DWI involving serious injury

(From the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office)

A Joplin man entered a plea of guilty in Newton County Circuit Court to the Class D felony of driving while intoxicated involving a serious physical injury and was sentenced to five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Joshua Nathan Goodhue, 46, was sentenced by Judge Kevin Selby of the 40th Judicial Circuit on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, on the single felony count of driving while intoxicated, a second count of assault was dismissed.

On December 20, 2020, Joplin Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on South Range Line near the intersection of 43rd Street.

On scene, police located the suspect, Goodhue, who was emitting the strong odor of intoxicants and appeared to be unable to walk.

Goodhue refused all field sobriety tests and a breath analysis.

During the investigation, Goodhue slapped the hands of the arresting officer as the officer attempted to help Goodman stand after falling. The passenger in the vehicle suffered internal bleeding and appeared to have bone fractures. An independent witness told police that she had seen the vehicle traveling on Range Line in excess of 80 miles per hour.

"Every year, thousands of lives are cut short by alcohol-impaired drivers. The victim in this case was lucky to survive this crash, as was Mr. Goodhue," said Newton County Prosecuting Attorney William Lynch. "We will continue to make efforts to hold impaired drivers accountable with the goal of someday eradicating drunk driving."

This case was investigated by the Joplin Police Department and prosecuted by William Lynch and Sarah Crites of the Newton County Prosecutor's Office.