AUGUSTA – Richard Desrosier, 40, of Vassalboro was sentenced in Kennebec County Superior Court on Monday to serve nearly five years in the state prison system after pleading guilty to his eighth drunken-driving offense.
District Attorney Evert Fowle said eight-time drunken-driving offenders are rare.
“It’s not completely unheard of, but he’s probably in the bottom 1 percent of OUI offenders,” he said. “Very few OUI offenders are this persistent. We’ve had a 12th offense before, so unfortunately, he didn’t break any records.”
Desrosier was given a total of 10 years in prison with all but four years and 364 days suspended, Fowle said. He also must serve three years of probation.
Fowle said a state police sergeant on patrol spotted Desrosier about 7 p.m. April 26 in the Somerset County town of Moscow.
“Sgt. Scott Ireland went to stop him because he was traveling 30 miles (per hour) over the speed limit on (U.S. Route) 201 in Moscow,” Fowle said.
“After a brief discussion, Mr. Desrosier bolted into the woods. Sgt. Ireland chased him for nearly a mile, pepper-sprayed him and subdued him. He appeared to be intoxicated.”
Fowle said that Desrosier’s blood-alcohol content was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 for driving.
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