A Texas appeals court has upheld the conviction of Cameron Alexander Wheaton for driving while intoxicated (DWI) with a child passenger. The Texas Court of Appeals, 13th District, ruled on August 6, 2026, that Wheaton's arguments regarding the enforcement of his plea agreement and his request to withdraw his guilty plea were not valid. This ruling has significant implications for individuals facing similar charges and plea agreements in Texas.
The case stems from an incident on December 11, 2024, when Wheaton was indicted for DWI with a child passenger, a state jail felony under Texas law. The indictment also included an enhancement paragraph alleging that Wheaton had a prior conviction for sexual assault of a child. The trial court set his bond at $10,000, which Wheaton agreed to. On July 14, 2025, Wheaton entered a guilty plea and accepted a plea agreement that would have him serve five years in prison if he appeared for sentencing without any issues.
However, on the scheduled sentencing date of August 18, 2025, the trial court revoked Wheaton's bond without explanation and ordered him to be held without bond until sentencing. The court later held a sentencing hearing on October 20, 2025, where the prosecution argued for a maximum sentence of ten years, citing Wheaton's previous conviction and the circumstances of the DWI incident. Wheaton's defense claimed he had medical evidence indicating he was suffering from seizures at the time of the incident, which they argued should allow him to withdraw his guilty plea.
During the hearing, Wheaton's attorney requested to withdraw the guilty plea based on the new evidence regarding his medical condition. However, the prosecution countered that this information was not new and that Wheaton had previously agreed to the plea deal. The trial court ultimately denied Wheaton's request to withdraw his plea and sentenced him to ten years in prison.
The court ruled that Wheaton's first argument, claiming the trial court breached the plea agreement, was not preserved for appellate review because he did not raise the issue in a timely manner. The court noted that a plea bargain is a contract between the defendant and the State, and the trial court is generally required to enforce it. However, since Wheaton did not demonstrate that he complied with the terms of the plea agreement, the court found no grounds for his appeal.
In addressing Wheaton's second argument regarding the withdrawal of his guilty plea, the court stated that he did not preserve this issue either. The court emphasized that Wheaton's request to withdraw his plea was based on new evidence rather than a claim of noncompliance with the plea agreement. The court concluded that Wheaton did not provide sufficient grounds for his request and that the trial court acted within its discretion in denying it.
The impact of this ruling is significant for individuals facing DWI charges in Texas and those considering plea agreements. The court's decision reinforces the importance of adhering to the terms of plea agreements and the necessity of preserving arguments for appeal. It highlights the challenges defendants may face when attempting to withdraw guilty pleas after a case has been taken under advisement.
Moving forward, Wheaton's conviction can be appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest court for criminal matters in Texas. However, the court's ruling indicates that the chances of a successful appeal may be limited due to the failure to preserve key arguments during the trial. Details were not available in the court filing regarding any related cases or pending appeals.