Sixth DUI violation lands McHenry man seven years in prison

A McHenry man who lost his license, spent time in several jails and even went to a state prison for driving under the influence - and then still proceeded to get behind the wheel drunk - was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison.

Kenneth Romandine, 40, was sentenced after pleading guilty to his sixth drunken driving violation since 1988, three since 2001.

Although Romandine's drunken driving never caused any known physical harm, Judge Joseph Condon said a message needed to be sent to other would be drunken drivers.

"This sentence is necessary to deter others from the commission of similar offenses," Condon said.

Romandine's latest conviction stems from an April 2007 traffic stop in Crystal Lake which led to his seventh DUI arrest in 20 years. The sentence handed down Wednesday also covers two separate incidents of driving while license revoked, on March 2, 2007 in Crystal Lake and again three days later in Bull Valley.

County prosecutors were seeking a 13-year sentence, saying he had not learned his lesson from five prior drunken-driving convictions.

"He's had multiple chances to comply with the law and he keeps (driving drunk)," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Mary Baccam said.

Romandine declined Wednesday when given an opportunity to speak on his own behalf.