BENSENVILLE, Ill., May 17 (UPI) -- An Illinois man received a 20-year prison sentence for drunken driving on his ninth DUI conviction, authorities said.
Judge Kathryn Creswell had the option of giving Bensenville resident Taurino Maldonado, 42, up to 30 years behind bars in his Friday sentencing, the Chicago Tribune reported.
In April, a DuPage County jury found Maldonado guilty of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol.
Maldonado's vehicle hit a curb and swerved into traffic, nearly crashing into another car May 6, 2007, police said. Authorities said his breath smelled of alcohol and he was arrested after rejecting a sobriety test.
Assistant State's Attorney Brian Perkins said in court that six of Maldonado's eight previous DUI convictions were in California.
