6th DUI nets 10 years in prison

William R. Moritz racked up six drunken driving convictions in 10 years.

And he isn't even 30 yet.

A DuPage County judge sentenced the Lombard man to 10 years in prison Thursday and warned him to get help for his alcohol addiction before it's too late.

"When you get out, you're still going to be a relatively young man with your life ahead of you," DuPage Circuit Judge George Bakalis said. "But your life is going to be worthless -- meaningless -- unless you do something about this."

Moritz had a blood-alcohol level of .132 -- compared to the legal threshold of .08 -- on April 20, 2007, when police pulled him over for erratic driving in Lombard. At the time, he was on parole after being released from prison for his fifth DUI.

A jury convicted him March 18 of aggravated DUI and driving with a revoked license. The 29-year-old Lombard man faced six to 30 years in prison because of his criminal history, which included other driving infractions.

"This defendant chooses to drink and drive over and over again," prosecutor Thomas O'Connor said. "Nothing will stop him. It is only a matter of time before someone pays with their life for his crimes."

Moritz's attorney, Scott Walthius, urged Bakalis to temper justice with mercy so that Moritz, a new father, has a chance to be rehabilitated.

"He is an addict," Walthius said. "He now realizes this has to stop."

Moritz has been in the DuPage County jail since his arrest nearly a year ago. He has participated in several dozen educational classes in jail for substance abuse, computer skills and religion.

As part of the sentence, Bakalis said he will recommend to state prison officials that Moritz be sent to a facility that offers alcohol treatment to its inmates. Moritz told the judge he wants help.

"I never actually took any responsibility or tried to help myself until now," Moritz said. "I realize I do have a drinking problem, and I have been taking classes to try to help myself and be a better person."

Moritz must serve half the prison term before being paroled. He also receives credit for the nearly one year he's spent in jail, meaning Moritz could be free in about 4.5 years.

Last July, Gary A. Johnson, 49, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for his 13th DUI, which involved hitting a school bus in Carol Stream. No children were on the bus. And, in February 2006, Robert W. Dunham, 36, of Lombard received a 14-year term for 10 DUIs.