Woman Gets 10 Years Prison for DWI

(Benton, Arkansas) In April 2007, a 42-year-old Saline County woman, Sheila Blair, was arrested for driving under the influence. It was her tenth.

Yesterday in Saline County Circuit Court, Blair was convicted of felony DWI by a jury after 24 minutes of deliberation.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Carrie Robertson asked the jury how many second chances one needs before realizing the seriousness of a problem. Robertson also noted that Blair testified she relates her drinking and driving convictions to traumatic events that happened in her life.

"Each time she suffers a tragedy, who else is going to suffer a tragedy?" Robertson asked the jury.

"She deserves the maximum sentence and [the jury] should be offended that she asks for community service. If she drinks to kill the pain, as she suggested earlier, she can do that in the luxury of her own home. She made a conscious effort to get behind the wheel. She earned the maximum sentence."

Interestingly, Blair begged the 12-member jury and Judge Grisham Phillips to sentence her to anything but jail.

"If there is anything possible [other than jail], please consider it," a tearful Blair said. "I need treatment of some kind. I want to live a normal life. I want to be there for my 6-year-old boy. If there is any other possible way to get help, I beg you to help me."

The court recommended Alcoholics Anonymous and sentenced Blair to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.