Man to serve five years for DUI

EPHRATA - A Quincy man is serving five years in prison for his 10th conviction for driving under the influence in the past 20 years.

A jury convicted David S. Garcia, 47, of felony driving under the influence after 25 minutes of deliberation.

Charges of driving while license suspended in the first degree and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device were dismissed before the jury made a decision.

Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline followed the prosecutor's recommendation, sentencing Garcia to the statutory maximum of five years in prison. Garcia has a string of previous driving under the influence convictions in Grant and Douglas counties starting in 1990.

Clerks at Patton Park Fuel and Grocery contacted police after Garcia appeared highly intoxicated coming into the store. Garcia was getting gas when the officer arrived, according to the Grant County sheriff's report.

The officer followed Garcia as he got into his car, failed to stop at a red light when he turned right onto Patton Boulevard, and drifted across the center line, according to the police report. When the officer stopped him, he reported smelling alcohol. Garcia admitted to having two beers.

When Garcia got out of the vehicle, the officer reported Garcia had difficulty standing, and two empty beer cans were sitting in cup holders in the vehicle, according to the police report.

Garcia refused to take a breathalyzer test, according to the police report.