A Multnomah County Circuit judge told a man convicted of drunken driving nine times that lying about living with an enormous stash of liquor and guns will send him to prison.

Judge Eric Bergstrom then sentenced 56-year-old Cary Dean Devore to about 4.5 years in prison, the time recommended by prosecutors.

Bergstrom noted that convicted impaired drivers statistically have driven drunk many more times than they’ve been caught.

"At nine times convicted, you have endangered the people of this city thousands of times. You are the most dangerous guy in the city," Bergstrom told Devore this week.

“I cannot in good conscience return you to the street,” the judge said.

Devore, who had looked upbeat at the start of Tuesday's hearing, appeared stunned.

He already spent six months in jail on his most recent conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants and got out Sept. 14. His original sentence by Judge Judith Matarazzo included five years of probation and participation in the DUII Intensive Supervision Program, which required him to stay sober, stick with treatment and be honest.

But Bergstrom said that Devore hadn't been honest.

Two weeks after his release, his probation officer discovered 38 guns, dozens of containers of wine and beer and a large amount of ammunition in the home where he was living with his stepmother.

Living around guns and alcohol violated his probation -- terms that were explained to him upon his release from jail, prosecutors said.

The stepmother said the guns belonged to Devore’s father, who died in 2015, and she had no way of getting rid of them. She also said that all of the bottles and cans of alcohol were hers, and although she's not a drinker, she planned to give the alcohol to guests or others.

Bergstrom said those weren’t legitimate excuses.

“Those bottles laying around? They are just like all of that ammo laying around, waiting to be put into a weapon. And you are the weapon,” Bergstrom told Devore.

Moments earlier, Devore had explained to the judge that he’s in a 12-step recovery program, going to church and doing something every day of the week to take his recovery to heart.

"This time it's different: I found the Lord," Devore said. "I've got great sponsorship. It's just, I've changed. Enough's enough. I've had it. ...I have no desire to use alcohol."

Devore said he was only planning on living with his stepmother temporarily.

According to the probation department, Devore was wearing an alcohol-detection anklet, and it hadn’t detected any alcohol in his system since his release from jail.

Bergstrom said he was sending Devore to prison because Devore’s dishonesty revealed that he hasn’t changed in significant ways.

“I hope you found God, and I hope you’ve found a way to say ‘I’m not going to drink anymore,’” Bergstrom said. “But I’ve got to tell you, I’ve heard that a thousand times. So I can’t judge whether that’s true today.”

On Wednesday, police seized all 38 guns from Devore's stepmother's home.

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Also this week, Bergstrom allowed a different nine-time convicted DUII driver to remain on probation.

Bergstrom told 43-year-old Steven Wayne Jones that he was on the “thinnest of ice,” but that the judge wouldn't send him to prison for failing to show up to take an alcohol-detection urine test one weekend in September.

Steven Wayne Jones, 43, is pictured here asking for another chance at probation on Oct. 3, 2017, in Multnomah County Circuit Court. (Aimee Green/The Oregonian)

Judge David Rees had previously sentenced Jones to what amounted to about nine months in jail, plus five years of probation and treatment under the watch of the DUII Intensive Supervision Program.

Jones had finished serving his jail time, plus one month in alcohol treatment, when he was released Sept. 18.

Prosecutor Chris Wyrostek said that the next day, Jones was told about the requirement to call in every day of the week -- including weekends -- to learn if he had to provide urine for a random alcohol-detection test. Just days later, Jones failed to call in for the urine test, Wyrostek said.

Jones said he didn’t realize that he was supposed to call in on weekends.

“I’m new to this program,” Jones told Bergstrom. “I made a mistake.”

The prosecution asked for seven years in prison, in light of the probation violation.

Bergstrom said he wouldn’t send Jones to prison because he didn’t think Jones made a “purposeful mistake” and because an alcohol-detection anklet hasn’t detected any alcohol in Jones’ system since his release.

But Bergstrom told Jones he must remain sober.

“If you fail and you hurt someone, I’m the guy who could have had you in prison and that victim unhurt,” Bergstrom said. “It’s about you: Helping you never be back here again. ... So with trepidation, I’m going to continue you (on probation).”

The judge said Jones can’t miss another urine test. “Get a calendar,” Bergstrom said. “Set reminders on your phone. Whatever it takes.”

-- Aimee Green