A New Holland man will serve at least 3 years in state prison for two DUIs in a week last year – on both occasions his blood-alcohol levels were three times the state limit for drivers.
Angel Ramirez-Castellano has 5 DUI convictions since 2003. He’s served two separate state-prison terms for prior convictions.
His latest - for DUIs on May 9 and May 16, 2015 – will cost him 3 to 10 years in state prison, according to Lancaster County Judge Howard Knisely’s sentence.
Ramirez-Castellano, 59, of Sandmine Road, pleaded guilty in November to misdemeanor charges.
At sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Maria Cusick asked for consecutive sentences on each DUI case, which Judge Knisely ordered.
On May 9, 2015, Lancaster city police pulled over Ramirez-Castellano’s Chevy Blazer because it was stopped in a traffic lane, then stopped at an intersection for a long period of time, even when traffic was clear.
Police found an open can of Budweiser in the vehicle. Testing revealed a blood-alcohol level of .26 percent. The state’s legal limit is .08 percent.
City police Lt. Mark Radmore filed charges.
On May 16, 2015, state police pulled over Ramirez-Castellano’s Blazer in East Lampeter Township for swerving. A bottle of whiskey was in the vehicle. Testing revealed a blood-alcohol level of .246 percent.
Trooper Kory Wardrop filed charges.
Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman has said about 20 percent of all DUI charges here are against repeat offenders. That amounts to between 300 and 400 drivers a year, he estimated.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright