Man Sentenced To Prison For Driving While Drunk With Loaded Gun In Car

Richard Showman made no excuses when he was sentenced Thursday morning in Lake County Court of Common Pleas.

It was the seventh time he had been convicted of drunken driving. He had also pleaded guilty to having a loaded gun in the car at the time.

"I take full responsibilities for my actions," he told Judge Eugene Lucci.

"I want to apologize to Lake County, to my family and to the court for taking up your valuable time."

Showman's attorney, Patrick Quinn, said he had been sober for 11 years when he fell off the wagon. (His last drunken driving conviction before was in 1998.)

Personal problems led to depression, which caused Showman to relapse, Quinn said.

Lake County Assistant Prosecutor Alexandra Kutz noted that somebody could have been hurt by Showman.

He was driving while drunk with two cans of Four Loko and a loaded .380 that had a bullet in the chamber, she said.

"A lot of people in the community and in the world have mental health issues and they don't put other people in danger to this level," she said.

Kutz added that, usually in similar cases, the prosecutor's office recommends the judge give the defendant three to four years in prison. However, because Showman had extenuating circumstances and admitted responsibility, she suggested he receive two years in prison.

Lucci ultimately decided to give Showman 4 1/2 years in prison -- four for driving drunk and six months for the gun.

"Now is the time to take control of your life," Lucci said to Showman. "Understand, this isn't the end of the world."

Lucci also said that Showman could apply for judicial release after he has served eight months.

"I'm not saying I would grant you judicial release after eight months," Lucci clarified. "I'm saying that's when you will be eligible."