Hobart man sentenced for 13th drunken driving conviction

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) — A 63-year-old Hobart man convicted of drunken driving 13 times has been sentenced to serve 7 ½ years in prison.

WLUK-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2qVYQKE ) that Gerald Blasczyk admitted in court Thursday to being an alcoholic.

Assistant District Attorney Peter Hahn urged the judge to impose a harsh sentence, saying Blasczyk needs treatment in a prison setting.

Defense attorney Walter Piel asked the judge for leniency, saying his client's alcoholism comes partially from a culture in northeastern Wisconsin that condones heavy drinking.

Judge Mitchell Metropulos told Blasczyk he was lucky he hadn't killed himself or someone else and sentenced him to the maximum 12 ½ years, with five years suspended and credit for three years Blasczyk has been in prison while his case worked its way through the courts.

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