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Judge Keough Pleads Guilty to DWI; Weapon Charge Dismissed

**Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough Pleads Guilty to DWI, Receives Probation**

**MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX –** Montgomery County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2, Mark Keough, officially admitted his guilt to a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge on February 28, 2024, concluding legal proceedings that stemmed from his arrest last fall. As part of his plea agreement, a related weapon charge was dismissed.

Judge Keough received a sentence of 15 months of probation for the Class B misdemeanor. The terms of his sentence also include a $500 fine, payment of court costs, 30 hours of community service, and the installation of an ignition interlock device on his vehicle for one year. He is also mandated to complete a DWI education program and attend a Victim Impact Panel.

The incident leading to Keough’s charges occurred on September 10, 2023. He was pulled over by DPS Trooper T. Hill on I-45 northbound, near Texas 242 in Montgomery County, while driving a 2023 Toyota Tundra. Subsequent breath tests administered during the stop indicated his blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.166 and 0.165, more than double Texas’ legal limit of 0.08.

While Keough initially faced both the DWI charge and a charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon while intoxicated, the latter was dismissed. Prosecutors from the Texas Attorney General’s Office, who handled the case due to local judicial recusals, determined there wasn’t “sufficient probable cause” to prove Keough was *carrying* the weapon unlawfully at the time of the stop. Keough, a licensed handgun carrier, had a Sig Sauer P365 handgun secured in an ankle holster.

The case was heard in Walker County Court at Law No. 1 in Huntsville. The need for an external jurisdiction arose from the recusals by all Montgomery County judges, a standard legal protocol when a local elected official faces charges within their own jurisdiction, ensuring impartiality. The Texas Attorney General’s Office assumed prosecutorial duties for the same reason.

Judge Keough, first elected as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 in 2018, presides over misdemeanor cases, small claims, and various civil matters, and performs duties such as setting bonds and conducting inquests. His precinct covers a significant portion of Montgomery County, including areas around The Woodlands and Conroe.

While a misdemeanor conviction does not automatically disqualify a Justice of the Peace from holding office in Texas, the incident and subsequent plea have drawn scrutiny regarding the conduct of public officials sworn to uphold the law. Keough is expected to continue serving in his capacity as Justice of the Peace throughout his probation period.

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