Kansas Man Gets 1 Year in Jail for 17th Drunk Driving Conviction

A 59-year-old eastern Kansas man has been sentenced to one year in jail after pleading guilty in his 17th drunken driving case.

The Kansas City Star reports Stephen Gast pleaded guilty after his June 10 arrest, when law enforcement officers were notified of a drunken driver. Prosecutors say officers found Gast in his vehicle and swerving on the road.

Most of Gast’s 17 driving under the influence convictions since 1980 have been in Leavenworth County, where he is a lifelong resident.

Gast was sentenced to a year in jail and $2,500 fine, which are the maximum punishments in Kansas for a person after four or more drunken driving convictions.

The sentence allows Gast to leave jail on work release after 48 hours in custody if he can verify employment.