FARMINGTON – A Stratton man who pleaded guilty to his ninth OUI charge will spend the next nine months and one day in the Maine State Prison.
Carl Shorey, 42, was arrested last September by Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Turcotte while parked on the Dead River Road and found to have a blood alcohol level of .16, twice the legal limit. It was Shorey’s ninth conviction of operating under the influence and his license was suspended at the time of the arrest.
Some debate arose as to whether Shorey was driving that night as the defendant and his passenger told police he was simply sitting in the driver’s seat while the car was pulled over.
However Turcotte reported seeing the car backing up when he approached the scene, according to Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson.
Nevertheless, minutes before a trial was about to commence in the case last Thursday in Superior Court, Shorey told attorneys he was ready to make a deal and before Justice Joseph Jabar, pleaded guilty to a felony count of OUI and a felony charge of being an habitual offender.
“I think he pleaded because the consequences of being convicted were so severe, he did not want to risk a trial,” said Robinson.
Jabar sentenced Shorey to five years in the Maine State Prison, with all but nine months and one day suspended and suspended his license for six years.
Sentences of nine months or less are served in the county jail so Shorey will serve his term in the state facility.
He was also placed on four years probation, and must refrain from any consumption of alcohol or drugs, subject to random search and testing. Shorey will also undergo counseling and must pay up a $2,000 fine.
sdepoy@sunjournal.com
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