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NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK)– A multi-state offender was sentenced to eight years in prison on Thursday after forcefully spitting in the face of a Nacogdoches police officer in 2024.

According to the Nacogdoches County District Attorney’s Office, around 1 a.m. on March 16, 2024 police officers were contacted by a citizen that said a person, later identified as 38-year-old Darin Brian Pagel of Nacogdoches, was lying in their yard.

Officers found Pagel to be intoxicated and he was taken into custody for public intoxication when he became agitated. Officials said while Pagel was being searched he “forcefully spat at the officer.”

“The defendant’s spit struck the officer in the face,” the DA’s office said. “While in the back of the patrol car the defendant stated that he did in fact ‘clear [his] throat’ on the officer and exhibited excitement and pride for doing so.”

Pagel is a multi-state offender with 29 prior felony and misdemeanor convictions, with multiple failed attempts at community supervision.

He was found guilty of harassment of a public servant on April 1 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison on Thursday.