Sandusky man loses driver's license, sent to prison after 12th DUI

He was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $2,500

6/7/2017
BY JENNIFER FEEHAN
BLADE STAFF WRITER

With his 12th drunken driving conviction, a Sandusky man today lost his driver's license for life and was sent to prison.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Gary Cook sentenced Johnnie Cross III, 59, to four years in prison and ordered him to pay a $2,500 fine, and participate in alcohol addiction treatment.

Judge Cook told Cross his only option was take him to off the streets and not allow him to have a driver's license because of his lifetime of drinking and driving.

Cross told the court he knows he has a problem.

RELATEDSandusky man guilty of drunken driving for 12th time

“A lot of this happened when I was a lot younger, but it's still a problem,” Cross said.

Cross pleaded guilty May 24 to felony operating a motor vehicle under the influence — his 12th such conviction since 1986. The charge was a third-degree felony because Cross was convicted of felony OVI in Erie County Common Pleas Court in 2012.

Cross was arrested in East Toledo just after 10 p.m Jan. 19 after a state trooper saw him stop at Main Street and Starr Avenue and then turn left onto Starr while the stoplight was still red.

When the trooper pulled him over, the trooper detected a strong odor of alcohol and Cross conceded there "always" is such an odor about him.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.