Democrat Texas House candidate Brittany Black has a criminal history in Illinois that includes a felony cocaine conviction, a drunken driving conviction, and multiple arrests dating back nearly two decades.
Black is the Democrat nominee challenging Republican State Rep. Keresa Richardson for Texas House District 61, which covers portions of Collin County. She won the Democrat primary in March with more than 56 percent of the vote.
Court and police records show Black’s most serious encounter with law enforcement occurred in April 2006.
According to police records, an officer attempted to pull Black over after observing her driving 85 mph in a 65 mph zone in southern Illinois.
Black did not stop.
Instead, police said she accelerated to speeds reaching approximately 120 mph, passing vehicles and swerving through traffic as officers pursued her.
The chase ended after Black lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch.
Police records state Black initially denied having anything illegal in the vehicle before acknowledging there was cocaine inside. Officers reported discovering a bag containing a white powdery substance along with a straw containing residue. Laboratory testing later confirmed the substance on the straw was cocaine.
Black was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude police, possession of a controlled substance, driving on a suspended license, and speeding more than 40 mph above the limit.
She ultimately pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony in Illinois.
The incident was not Black’s last encounter with law enforcement.
Later in 2006, Black was arrested and charged with domestic battery following an altercation involving her then-boyfriend and his mother. The charges were ultimately dismissed after prosecutors were unable to subpoena the alleged victims and witnesses.
Black continued to face legal trouble in the following years, including multiple citations for driving with a suspended license.
Police records also show Black was arrested in 2008 for disorderly conduct in Champaign, Illinois, following what authorities described as a drunken fight in the street.
About a month and a half later, Black was arrested for criminal damage to property.
Another criminal damage case followed in Chicago in 2011. Police records state witnesses saw Black deliberately break the window of a residential building around 2 a.m. The report noted suspected alcohol use. That case was dismissed after the complaining witness did not appear in court.
In December 2012, Black was arrested for driving under the influence in Macon County, Illinois.
Police said Black was speeding, failed to properly change lanes, disobeyed officers, and was not wearing a seat belt. She failed field sobriety testing and registered a blood alcohol concentration of .21—more than twice the legal limit.
Police also reported finding an open container of Seagram’s whiskey in her vehicle.
Black was ordered to complete substance abuse treatment and 100 hours of community service as part of the case. Court records show the state later alleged that she failed to complete the requirements of her supervision on time.
Texas Scorecard contacted Black’s campaign for comment on her criminal history but did not receive a response before publication.
