Crime & Safety
Golden Arrest Was 8th DUI For Man Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison
John Charles Thompson, 45, had seven DUIs under his belt, as well as 23 other offenses, when he was arrested after leaving a Golden bar.
GOLDEN, CO – A man was sentenced in Jefferson County to five years in prison for his eighth DUI on Aug. 27.
John Charles Thompson, 45, had seven DUIs under his belt, as well as 23 other offenses, and was on bond for a DUI in another county when he was arrested last year. He will serve his prison sentence, then a three-year sentence to Community Corrections in Adams County which was imposed in July, 2018, the first Judicial District Attorney's office said.
On Oct. 23, 2017 Thompson had been drinking at a bar in Golden when a bartender asked him to leave because he was "very intoxicated," a statement from the DA's office said. Thompson told the bartender he was walking home, but the bartender saw him getting into a car, start driving away, and running a red light.
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"The bartender immediately dialed *311 and made a REDDI report (Report Every Drunk Driver Immediately)," the DA's office said. Golden police located and began to followed Thompson as he reportedly made a left turn without using a signal. Thompson was found to be violating a term of his drivers' license which said he could only drive with "an interlock device." No device was found on the car he was driving, police said.
District Attorney Pete Weir called the situation "outrageous."
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"He had driving privileges, even with an interlock device," Weir said in a statement. “This conduct has got to stop."
A jury found Thompson guilty June 28 of DUI and traffic violations, making it the fourth felony conviction for Thompson.
“Mr. Thompson poses a significant risk to the community, as he has continued to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol since his first arrest alcohol-related driving offense 24 years ago. He has had many opportunities at treatment, but continued to put the community at risk,” Weir said.
Image: John Charles Thompson via Jefferson County DA's Office
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