-
Walter “Loddie” Naymola -
Crash photo by Jerome Cabeen
An influential Beaumont businessman turned himself in Aug. 29 at the Jefferson County Jail, then immediately paid for release on his three $100,000 bonds for charges alleging aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The arrest stems from the three-intersection, six-car crash for which the reportedly intoxicated 65-year-old Walter “Loddie” Naymola is accused of causing June 22 on Dowlen Rd.
Naymola, a man who started and sold companies for more than a billion dollars and whose nickname adorns a building on the campus of Stephen F. Austin University, turned himself in at about 2:06 p.m. Monday and bonded out soon thereafter, according to information from the jail.
Two TxDOT crash reports – dated June 22 and 23 – list the responsible party as “Unit 1,” identified as Naymola, a blue 2021 Dodge Ram 1500.
Naymola began barrelling through intersections at the corner of Phelan Boulevard and Dowlen Road.” according to the first of two reports – this one dated the same day of the wreck. The report states, “(Naymola) was westbound in the 6400 block of Phelan. It left the roadway and struck some trees, shrubs and a sprinkler system. It then traversed through the parking lot and then onto Dowlen Road.
Witnesses told officers Naymola was driving north on Dowlen “at a high rate of speed” when he drove into the southbound lanes at the Westgate intersection “to get around traffic.”
“Witnesses observed Naymola’s car strike Unit 2 and become airborne,” the report reads. “Impact forced Unit 2 into (southbound) lanes, where she struck Unit 4 and Unit 5. After being airborne, Unit 1 then struck Unit 3. Both Unit 1 and Unit 3 continued (northbound) for a distance before coming to a stop. Unit 6 driver stated her vehicle was struck by flying debris.”
Naymola’s actions resulted in eight hospital trips, including his own. The crash report lists 12 impacted victims who were in cars Naymola crumpled, including children ages 2, 5, 6 and 14.
A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Naymola on Aug. 24 on three charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. District Court Judge John Stevens issued an arrest warrant the same day. Naymola turned himself in five days later.
When asked why prosecutors sought aggravated assault charges rather than the recommended intoxication assault, Jefferson County First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Knauth offered, “Intoxication assault is a third degree, and aggravated assault is second degree, which is higher. The intoxication assault requires that a victim suffers serious bodily injury. Now, in that, you and I would think that you get taken to the hospital – that’s serious bodily injury. But there’s a legal definition for serious bodily injury which requires disfigurement or prolonged loss of use of a particular organ or limb.”
Judge Stevens set bond conditions, including that Naymola remain in the county and at home, excluding driving to and from work or to get food. Naymola is also required to wear a device that monitors for alcohol use.
If convicted, Naymola could face 2-20 years in prison, although he also qualifies for probation as a first-time offender.