Drunk driver testifies that he drank 20 beers

Cordero

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART — A 56-year-old Shelby man testified, through an English interpreter, in 27th Circuit Court Monday, Jan. 5, that he drank 20 beers the night he was arrested for drunk driving.

Victor Cordero, of 310 Pine St., pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle with an unlawful blood alcohol content (BAC), third offense, during a pretrial hearing. In exchange for his plea, a misdemeanor of DWLS (driving while license suspended) was dismissed. The plea bargain also includes a six-month cap on his jail time. Third-offense drunk driving carries a maximum five-year sentence.

Cordero told Judge Anthony A. Monton that he was arrested by the Hart Police Department the night of Oct. 19 on State Street in Hart. His BAC was .17.

He has previous drunk driving convictions in 1996 and 2004.

Cordero, who is currently free on a $3,500 bond, is set for sentencing Feb. 11 at 9 a.m.