Criminal Court Judge Don Poole said Monday it is time for Jerry Lamar Jones "to go to the penitentiary" after being convicted of seven felonies and 20 misdemeanors.
Jones, 49, earlier pleaded guilty to sixth-offense DUI. Prosecutor Kate Lavery said he has additional drunk driving cases that were not counted toward the overall figure.
In the latest arrest last Oct. 10 at East Lake Courts, Jones and a female friend, "Miss Bessie", were in a white Cadillac that slammed into another vehicle in the parking lot. The vehicle that was struck hit another car, and in turn that vehicle slammed into a third.
Jones maintained that he went out to the car to get away from a family argument. He said both he and Miss Bessie were too drunk to drive. He said while they were discussing the situation, the vehicle jumped out of park and struck the other vehicles. He said he had it running in order to keep warm.
Prosecutor Lavery said she doubted that all the damage could have been produced by the Cadillac "jumping out of gear."
Jones said he was with the family mourning the death of an 18-year-old relative who had been gunned down in gang warfare.
His attorney, Sam Robinson III, said Jones had been on the wagon for almost two years after getting outpatient treatment. He said one reason he drank in the past was because of the fact one of his five children has cerebral palsy and is confined to a home.
The attorney said his parents were present and are supportive. His father is a pastor.
Jones has been in jail for nine months since the incident, where he registered .27 or over "triple drunk."
Judge Poole sentenced Jones to two years in prison on prior offenses, plus new time for the latest arrest.