Ninth DUI nets Bensenville man 20 years

A Bensenville man was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for racking up nine drunken driving convictions.

Taurino Maldonado, 41, received the tough prison term for a chronic history of intoxicated driving. None, though, ever resulted in a crash with injuries.

Last month, a DuPage County jury convicted the forklift operator of felony aggravated DUI after just 20 minutes of deliberations.

Police arrested him May 6, 2007, in Bensenville. Maldonado posted bond, and three weeks later he was arrested again for DUI in Wood Dale -- his 10th such arrest.

Prosecutors pursued only the Bensenville case in court, citing stronger evidence, but they used the 10th arrest in asking DuPage Circuit Judge Kathryn Creswell for a lengthy term.

During the trial, a Bensenville police officer testified he saw Maldonado's car strike the a curb and then veer into oncoming traffic, narrowly missing another motorist. The officer said he smelled a strong odor of alcohol after pulling him over. Maldonado refused field sobriety and breath tests and, after nearly falling over, was taken into custody. Police said he admitted to drinking about six beers.

A review of Maldonado's driving record, officials said, revealed that he had been previously convicted eight times on DUI charges, six of these convictions in California and the latter two in Cook County.

DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett upgraded the original charges to felonies.

"Time and time again, Mr. Maldonado thumbed his nose at the law," Birkett said. "He continued to get behind the wheel not only after his first or second DUI, but after his seventh and eighth."

Maldonado faced six to 30 years in prison. He must serve half of the 20-year prison term before being eligible for parole.