United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Bossier City man was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with two years suspended, for driving drunk and crashing his car into bollards guarding a gate at Barksdale Air Force Base.

Leandrew Smith, 56, of Bossier City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. on one count of driving while intoxicated-fourth offense. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

On May 20, 2017, Smith drove his vehicle into bollards blocking the West Gate at Barksdale Air Force Base on May 20, 2017. The bollards, which were completely destroyed, caused Smith’s vehicle to go airborne before stopping. Security Forces Airmen rushed to the crash and asked Smith if he needed medical attention, which he declined. Smith’s breath smelled of alcohol, and Smith told Security Forces he had drank a beer. A half-full 40-ounce beer bottle was found on the back floorboard.

Smith tried to get out of his car and fell down. Smith was unable to complete field sobriety tests other than the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, which he failed. He also passed out while Security Forces Airmen transported him to Security Forces headquarters where his blood alcohol concentration registered more than three times the legal limit at .295 percent. Smith has three prior convictions for driving while intoxicated in the past 10 years, including two in 2013 in Caddo Parish Court and one in 2015 in Shreveport City Court.

The FBI and the 2nd Security Forces Squadron of Barksdale Air Force Base conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara prosecuted the case.