On March 29, a 52-year-old man in California was charged withdriving under the influence for the ninth time since 2011. The man’s latest DUI incident took place when he crashed his vehicle into a power pole in Placentia. Police were called to the scene of the accident at around 6 p.m.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly found a Southern California Edison electrical box with live wires underneath the accused man’s car. The officers conducted an investigation and then took the driver into custody for drunk driving charges. The man was also charged with violation of DUI probation, driving on a suspended license and driving without an ignition interlock device that was ordered by the court.
Because the man was convicted for DUI in Orange County on eight prior occasions, his latest DUI charge is a felony. At the time of the latest incident, the man was on post-release community supervision for a prior felony DUI. He was held in the Orange County Jail with no bail option, and he pleaded not guilty to his charges on March 31. The man is expected to appear back in court on Feb. 8.
DUI defendants could face elevated charges if they have already been convicted in the past. An attorney may be able to help an individual in this situation to negotiate for reduced sentencing through a plea deal. Some DUI defendants are able to avoid incarceration if they agree to obtain alcohol counseling.
Source: ABC 13, “California man arrested for 9th alleged DUI in 6 years“, Feb. 3, 2017