Repeat drunk driver sentenced for 8th DUI, facing 9th

A 46-year-old Maple Valley resident arrested on suspicion of drunken driving while he was awaiting sentencing on the same charge has been sentenced to 4½ years in prison.

Friday’s sentencing did not resolve the outstanding felony drunken driving charge filed against Stephen A. Jones on Feb. 27 after a State Patrol trooper stopped him on state Route 18 in Auburn.

Writing the court in the newer case, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Amy Freedheim said Jones was seen talking on his cell phone, which he initially refused to hang up after the trooper contacted him.

"He was hostile and belligerent to the trooper," Freedheim told the court. "He refused to hang up his cell phone and was heard stating to (his girlfriend) that he 'really messed up.'"

Freedheim noted Jones had been convicted of drunken driving eight times since 1983, including five convictions in the past decade. He's also been convicted on reckless or negligent driving charges four times.

According to charging documents, a trooper on state Route 18 in Auburn spotted Jones' car swerving across the highway. The trooper waited until they reached a stretch of road with a shoulder and moved to pull over Jones.

Jones continued to drive for some distance before exiting at Auburn Way and stopping at a restaurant parking lot. The trooper reported that Jones continued talking on his cell phone and was obviously drunk.

The trooper described Jones as indignant when he was told to put down his cell phone.

"Why, am I under arrest?" Jones asked, according to police. "Go to Iraq if you want some (expletive) action."

Jones was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence; he called his attorney from the scene. The trooper noted that a crushed beer can was found behind the driver's seat.

Charged with felony drunken driving and reckless driving, Jones remains jailed. He is expected to be sentenced in the earlier felony DUI while also facing the new charges.

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Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.