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• May 16, 2008 12:44 pm US/Central
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  Man Gets 20 Years For 9th DUI Conviction

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Man Gets 20 Years For 9th DUI Conviction

Taurino Maldonado Charged With Felony By DuPage County Prosecutor

WHEATON, Ill. (STNG) ― A northwest suburban man convicted last month of his ninth DUI, won't be getting a 10th for quite some time after a judge sentenced him Friday to 20 years in prison.

Taurino Maldonado, 42, of 6001 Argyle St. in Bensenville was found guilty by a jury on April 1 of aggravated DUI and was sentenced Friday by DuPage Circuit Judge Kathryn Creswell to 20 years in prison, according to a release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's office.

On May 6, 2007, a Bensenville police officer observed Maldonado's vehicle strike a curb and then veer into oncoming traffic, narrowly missing another vehicle, according to the release. The officer pulled Maldonado over and noticed a strong odor of alcohol as he spoke. After refusing field sobriety and breath tests, Maldonado was taken into custody, charged with misdemeanor DUI, and released on bond.

However, a review of Maldonado's driving record revealed he had been arrested and convicted on DUI charges eight times, including six in California, and State's Attorney Joseph Birkett authorized upgrading the original charge to felony aggravated DUI. Maldonado was arrested on the upgraded charges and taken into custody.

"Time and time again, Mr. Maldonado thumbed his nose at the law," Birkett said in the release. "He continued to get behind the wheel not only after his first or second DUI, but after his seventh and eighth. Thankfully, no one was injured as a result of Mr. Maldonado's irresponsible, reckless behavior. People have got to learn that driving after you have been drinking is extremely dangerous and if you are convicted of DUI, as we saw in this case, it can cost you your freedom for a substantial part of your life. "

(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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