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Man with Seven Prior Charges Arrested Again for Drunken Driving

Police observed him driving intoxicated near Heisley and Hendricks roads

Mentor Police arrested a man with a long rap sheet Tuesday for driving drunk near the intersection of Heisley and Hendricks roads.

Police arrested 44-year-old Thomas J. Wright at 8:46 p.m. after receiving a call from a resident, Lt. Tim Allen said. Officers observed his impaired driving for a short while before pulling him over.

"He was driving under an (Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated) suspension at the time we stopped him," Allen said.

Wright already had seven drunken driving charges on his record. Additionally, the Mentor resident has a pending drunken driving case in Eastlake.

Wright was also charged with driving under suspension and a marked lane violation. He was arraigned Wednesday in Mentor Muncipal Court and remains in jail on a bond worth 10 percent of $33,000. His next court date is Nov. 15.

Richard Walsh November 8, 2012 at 01:25 pm
When are our courts going to get serious about this type of habitual criminal? How long will it take before he kills innocent people? Can you imagine how many times he has been driving intoxicated without getting caught. He has no interest or will he ever be rehabilitated. I say lock him up for 10 years and let him dry out.
Anne November 8, 2012 at 01:38 pm
This can no longer be tolerated. He obviously cannot control himself with the drinking problem. He must be locked up for public safety. Please, to the Judicial System!!!!!
Anne November 8, 2012 at 02:00 pm
Can someone find out: 1) when was his last OVI 2)who was the judge that sentenced him 3) what was his sentence?
Kyle November 8, 2012 at 03:01 pm
My stance is for people that have so many DUIs there needs to be way tougher penalties. I say take away their license for life after the 4th or 5th (at least). No privileges whatsoever. You need it for work? Should have thought about that before drinking and driving.
But I wound't just stop there. Anyone who lets a habitual drunk driver use their car should get in trouble too. I don't care if they took the keys and ran, unless you called the cops on them you get in trouble. Nothing changes in this country unless some really tough penalties happen. Guys like this don't care if they spend a couple months in jail.
Brandon Baker (Editor) November 8, 2012 at 03:30 pm
Anne, thanks for reading. Didn't mean to leave you hanging. As far as I can see, his most recent OVI charge was in April of this year in Willoughby. His Mentor record shows no other OVIs in this city. Judge John Trebets is presiding over this case but he has not been sentenced yet. He has a preliminary hearing next Thursday.
CCRady November 8, 2012 at 03:49 pm
It's just a matter of time before he hurts or kills someone. Why can't the laws in Ohio be not only stricter for drunk drivers but make them ALL manadatory! I just wonder if he would have recieved any tougher punishments for any of his previous charges if a judge's family member had been injured by this guy? This is insane. He shouldn't even be out on the streets. Long jail sentence and then under house arrest. and don't cry me a river about his rights, he obviously can't control his right to drink! JMO
Anne November 8, 2012 at 05:05 pm
thanks brandon. to make myself clearer, i was wondering what his last sentence was? apparently not much if he was already out to repeat the ovi so soon. no thanks to the w'by judge.
ichabod November 8, 2012 at 05:49 pm
everyone deserves a chance after they make mistakes April. You shouldn't be so quick to judge.
DL November 8, 2012 at 11:10 pm
All I have to say is James Cline. Pretty much a life sentence and 2 people dead and one handicapped for life. Lock this piece of human garbage away. Taking his license away won't stop him from driving.
ichabod November 9, 2012 at 01:08 am
They should just cut off his feet so he can't use the pedals.
Sue Martin December 11, 2012 at 01:09 pm
Franis Grenon on his 7 dui also from Mentor...What's it going to take to lock these jerks up for a long period of time??? They will never stop until someone is hurt or dead...How can these judges sleep at night!!!!!!!!!!

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