Crime & Safety

San Mateo Man With Eight DUI Convictions Gets Three Years in Prison

Vernon Wayne Smith, however, will only serve a year and a half.

A San Mateo man with eight felony DUI convictions has been sentenced to three years in prison, with credit for one and a half years already served, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

Vernon Wayne Smith, 54, April 6 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to felony drunk driving -- his eighth conviction of that charge -- in San Mateo County Superior Court.

Smith had multiple prior felony drunk driving convictions when, on Aug. 1, 2011, he got into an argument while drunk with another man, prosecutors said.

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Smith, according to prosecutors, then drove to his father's home with a friend, retrieved a shotgun, and drove to his own home.

His friend tried to talk him out of going back to the other man's apartment who Smith had been fighting with, and eventually the friend tried to wrestle the shotgun away from Smith, prosecutors said.

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Neighbors called the police, who found Smith with the shotgun and determined he had 0.15 percent blood alcohol level.

Under the condition of his plea deal, Smith agreed to three years in prison. He was granted 556 days credit for time served. He had been in custody on $100,000 bail.

 

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