This Pasco man has 9 DUIs. A judge took him off the streets for awhile
Hector Orozco Sr., a man who's been caught driving drunk nine times, won't be getting behind the wheel for awhile.
This last time, the 64-year-old man is serving a five-year prison sentence.
Judge Cameron Mitchell imposed the sentence in line with a plea agreement between Deputy Prosecutor Laura Mapes and defense attorney Christine Bennett.
The most Orozco could serve for DUI is 10 years, according to state law.
Pasco police Officer Travis Park spotted Orozco's green sedan on West Shoshone Street at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 25.
The car had 2018 tabs on it, but the registration expired in 2016.
Park stopped the car and found a drunk Orozco and open alcohol containers inside.
When the officer asked whether Orozco had anything to drink tonight, he answered, "Plenty."
Park asked how much that was. "A six pack or more," Orozco said, according to court records.
Orozco blew 0.164 shortly after being pulled over — more than twice the legal limit.
Court documents show it was the first time in 10 years that Orozco was caught drunk behind the wheel.
A 2008 arrest came after a Washington state trooper caught him driving without a seat belt. He told the trooper he didn't have very much alcohol before getting behind the wheel.
His blood-alcohol level was 0.11 at the scene and 0.139 at Franklin County jail, according to court records.
Before his two convictions in 2008, and the 25-month prison sentence that followed, he had six other DUI convictions.
He was one of the first people in the Tri-Cities to be charged with a felony DUI after state legislators increased the penalties for repeat offenders.
Orozco told Eastern State Hospital mental health evaluators he had severe substance alcohol abuse issues. He did seek treatment after the 2008 conviction, but continued to drink.
One of Orozco's children is accused murderer Hector Orozco Jr. That Orozco is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and unlawful imprisonment, because of a pair of February stabbings.
This story was originally published May 15, 2018 at 6:12 PM with the headline "This Pasco man has 9 DUIs. A judge took him off the streets for awhile."