A 58-year-old Aspen woman sentenced to 10 years’ probation and 90 days in jail last week for her sixth DUI conviction received more time behind bars Tuesday.
Pitkin County Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely sentenced Karen Sahr to another year in jail — — for racking up her sixth DUI while on probation for her fifth DUI.
“For me, you don’t have any more chances,” Fernandez-Ely said. “You’re a bad driver. You’re a drunk driver. “You really are a danger to the community.”
Fernandez-Ely sentenced Sahr to 90 days in jail in January 2015 after Sahr pleaded guilty to her fifth DUI. But the judge also suspended a 365-day jail sentence pending Sahr’s successful completion of three years’ probation. Because she failed to complete her probation, Fernandez-Ely re-imposed the 365-day jail sentence.
That fifth DUI arrest occurred after Sahr slammed into the back of a Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle parked on the shoulder of Colorado 82 near Wildcat Ranch. Deputy Erin Smiddy, who was sitting in the driver’s seat at the time, was injured. Sahr’s blood alcohol level registered a 0.18, more than twice the legal driving limit.
Sahr was arrested in August for her sixth DUI after police received a report of a driver swerving in the 800 block of East Hyman Avenue and using a right turn signal to switch into the left lane, according to police. Two witnesses followed Sahr and saw her hit a parked car, then stagger and stumble away when she got out of her car.
“If you wouldn’t drive, you wouldn’t be a danger to society,” Fernandez-Ely said. “I just hope you stop driving.”
Read the full story on .
