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Man Gets 1 Year In Jail for 18th DWI

May 4, 2011 9:07 PM
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(credit: Washington County Sheriff's Office)

(credit: Washington County Sheriff’s Office)

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Crime, Local, News
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NEWPORT, Minn. (WCCO) — A 55-year-old man will spend a year in jail after pleading guilty to his 18th DWI on Wednesday in Washington County District Court.

Paul David Garay pleaded guilty to one gross misdemeanor charge and had two other charges, also gross misdemeanors, dropped in connection with a Christmas Eve 2010  incident where he drove drunk and lost control of his car, ending up in a ditch near Interstate 494 and Hwy. 61 in Newport.

According to a criminal complaint, Garay had a blood alcohol concentration of about twice the legal limit at the time of the incident. He also had a valid driver’s license despite 17 prior DWI convictions, according to court documents.

He was sentenced to a year in jail with credit for 316 days served in the Washington County Jail.

View Comments
  • Jeffery Gauss

    When he murders someone behind the wheel they’ll put him away for 3 years! Maybe it will be your loved on that dies next time this moron drives drunk!

  • Carol

    As someone who was hit by a drunk driver at 7 in the morning a year isn’t nearly enough!

  • swerver

    This guys a hero he had a license after 17dwi’s, some kind of legend

  • Hardrada

    Wow, an entire year, seems a little overboard considering the guy only had 18 DWI arrests.

    What did get for number 17, a stern lecture?

  • Ezra Gonzalez

    Does he live in a cardboard box and use every cent of his paycheck to pay car insurance; who the heck would be willing to insure someone with that many dee-wees.

  • Pate

    Juat slap his hand and give him a drink.This is so stupid!

  • JamieinMN

    really? ONE year?!?!?!?! Bullhonky.

  • Madros-Eden Prairie

    If he killed someone the penalty would be two years.

  • I need a drink

    And he already has credit for 316 days served, so his sentence is actually 36 days

    • JAS

      “Ezra Gonzalez

      Does he live in a cardboard box and use every cent of his paycheck to pay car insurance; who the heck would be willing to insure someone with that many dee-wees.”

      I am sure you are posting that tongue-in-cheek, I am sure that he did NOT have insurance.

      “swerver

      This guys a hero he had a license after 17dwi’s, some kind of legend.”

      Did it say that he had a license? I really doubt that he did, but I suppose it is possible.

      “I need a drink

      And he already has credit for 316 days served, so his sentence is actually 36 days.”

      Umm, if he has/had 316 days credit, he would be released immediate;y, since in Minnesota you normally get 1/3 off for good behavior for any sentence 10 days or more.

      • swerver

        if you can read it said he had a license, who comments and doesnt read the article 1st

      • bluefaery

        it says he got arrested on Christmas Eve 2010 … then he already got his 1/3 good time credit … count it out 31 days in January, 28, 31, 30 … I can only count about 130 which sounds like serve a day get a day but what do i know …

      • amazedbutnotsurprised

        Jas
        yes the article said he had a valid drivers license, and I thought the same thing about the insurance but you are probably right he probably didn’t have any. I can’t believe he got only 1 year, I hope that when he gets out and does this again based on the past he will do this again, I hope the person he kills or hurts is someone from the judge’s family and not someone from mine. Wake up politicians and start making stiffer laws for dwi’s there is no excuse for drinking and driving,

        • eastside_evil

          You’re hoping the judge’s family is next? That’s nice. As if the judge could have sentenced him to 40 years and decided not to, right?

  • Whahaha

    Seriously? Let’s chain him to a bike with training wheels before he kills someone!

    This is ridiculous!

  • nun ya

    must have a hell of a lawyer. I got 6 months for my second. but i agree with you all. how this guy continues to get his licence back. i’m stuck to public transit and a bicycle. but screw DUI law, lets see how society likes it when half the drivers on the road have no licence and no insurance. That way when they get in a traffic accident they flee. I guess thats better!

    • michellefrommadison

      Statistically, most that flee actually do get away.

  • joe d

    Credit for 316 days served? Dec. 2010 to May 3, 2011 is – -

  • L

    Wow! Shows a person how well our system ISN’T working, geesh!

  • Romericus J Sims

    UNFORTUNATELY AND STUPID ENOUGH “of me” …I GOT A YEAR IN JAIL FOR 2 DWI IN 2007. WONDER IF THERE COULD BE SOME RACIAL DESPARITY??? …AND I DIDNT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS…JUST HAD MY BRIGHTS ON AND GOT PULLED OVER.

    • bluefaery

      stupid yes … you better thank some higher power that you didn’t kill someone idiot

    • johnny

      Get a lawyer next time, I got 2. It cost me lots of $$$ but no jail time. Hopefully next time I can hit and kill bluefaery

      • WHAT DO YOUR LAWYERS THINK NOW AFTER THAT COMMENT?

        YOU ARE DANGEROUS……………….WHAT A COMPLETELY IGNORANT THING TO SAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE THE LAWYERS WHO WOULD HELP A MONSTER LIKE YOU, WITH THAT ATTITUDE, GO FREE?

  • good idea

    yes, let drink and drive and maybe kill all these loser hahahaha

  • Get a life

    You must have been born a crack baby!!

  • riz

    smoking is a crime but alcohol is advertiesed on tv, ect like crazy…
    such stupid laws…

    • eastside_evil

      No, smoking is not a crime, first of all.

      Secondly, Alcohol is advertised on tv “like crazy?”

      Not sure what channels you’re watching, but I say you’re totally wrong on everything you posted.

  • michellefrommadison

    Justice in motion. :)

  • Mills

    Get a DWI get a slap on the wrist. Try and drink responsibly under the age of 21 and get screwed. Where are the priorities?

  • Michael Clark

    What a loser

  • Sarah

    Time for 3 strikes your out.

  • Sad

    He should have gotten one year for each DWI. 18 yrs.

    • michellefrommadison

      But, that’s not how our system of criminal justice works in this country.

  • 56001

    only one year? This idiot needs to be locked up for much longer than that!! He obviously hasn’t learned his lesson yet. Give him 10 years of hard labor at 15 cents an hour at least.

  • Vicki

    Who is the judge overseeing this case? There are obvious personnel changes needed at the Washington Country Courthouse!

    • eastside_evil

      Judges do not create sentencing guidelines. You know that right? Wait, it appears you don’t.

      Get a clue, Vicki. For your own sake.

  • 56001
    • michellefrommadison

      None of that other stuff is necessarily relevant to his driving or abilities to drive.

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