A Lancaster man's fourth intoxicated driving conviction in 4 years will cost him at least 3½ years in state prison.
Lancaster County Judge Margaret Miller recently ordered Michael D. Williams serve 3½ to 7 years in prison for his latest DUI charge, which was a violation of his parole regarding a prior DUI conviction.
Judge Miller ordered sentence on the latest conviction - which involved Williams having a .251 percent blood-alcohol level - and on the parole violation.
The latest conviction also involved Williams' 10th driving under suspension charge.
In court, Williams, 42, denied having an alcohol problem, saying he is a "weekend warrior" who drinks heavily only on weekends, according to Assistant District Attorney Christopher Sarno.
Judge Miller and Sarno rejected that argument, saying Williams is in denial of his alcohol issues.
Judge Miller called Williams a "great danger to the community because of (his) denial."
The judge said Williams has taken no accountability for his actions.
Sarno, while asking for a state-prison sentence, pointed out that Williams also owes more than $38,000 in child support.
Williams pleaded guilty July 29 and was sentenced that same day.
Williams' latest DUI happened Dec. 19, 2015, when he was stopped on Meadow Valley Road in Ephrata for an illegal turn. He failed field sobriety tests administered by Ephrata police Officer Victoria Mathews.
His blood-alcohol level was more than three times the Pennsylvania's legal limit for drivers (.08 percent).
That arrest happened three months after Williams was paroled from prison on a 2013 DUI conviction.
Officer Mathews filed charges. Assistant District Attorney J. Alexander Marcinko
prosecuted the case.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright