HOPKINS COUNTY, TX – A 69-year-old Wolfe City woman was arrested late Monday night following a string of concerning events that culminated in a public intoxication charge.
According to the arrest report, Sulphur Springs Officers were dispatched to 100 block of N. Davis St on April 21, 2025, after receiving a welfare concern for a woman reported to be intoxicated in public. The suspect, identified as Penny Lynn Stark-Lessley, was exhibiting visible signs of impairment, including slurred speech and difficulty maintaining balance upon contact with officers.
Stark-Lessley told officers she had recently been in two separate vehicle accidents in Sulphur Springs earlier that evening. However, no records of her filing official reports were found with the Sulphur Springs Police Department. She also mentioned being unfamiliar with the area and was reportedly attempting to get to her residence in Wolfe City from Dallas.
Deputies attempted to administer a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, which Stark-Lessley was unable to complete due to swaying and not following basic instructions. Officers determined that Stark-Lessley was intoxicated to a degree that made her a danger to herself or others in public. She was taken into custody and booked into the Hopkins County Jail without incident.
According to official records, Stark-Lessley was charged with:
- Public Intoxication (MC)
This arrest highlights ongoing efforts by Hopkins County law enforcement to maintain public safety and intervene in incidents involving suspected intoxicated individuals.
