Union Co. man accused of sixth DWI in three years

UNION CO., NC,None — A Monroe man has been arrested for his tenth DWI in twelve years.

Police arrested 33-year-old Jeremiah McManus at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Authorities said he was seen swerving across the center line in the 2400 block of Walkup Avenue, and police reportedly found two open containers of beer in his car.

Police said McManus failed a field sobriety test and blew a 0.13 BAC at the Union County Jail.

Tuesday, McManus' wife said she has bailed him out of jail for the past ten years for DWI arrests, and this is the final straw.

"He's in the safest place he can be, for everybody," his wife said.

Eyewitness News obtained court records for McManus, dating back to 1999. During that time, he has been arrested ten times for DWI.

Once, he was charged with DWI five separate times in a one year period.

McManus has served prison time for his various DWI convictions, but court officials said, in cases like these, prison often does little to reduce recidivism.

"He goes, serves his time, gets back out and starts drinking and driving. I hate to say it, but that happens a lot," said Union County District Attorney Trey Robison.

Robison could not comment on McManus' latest pending case, but did say that even the new, tougher sentencing requirements that went into effect on December 1, 2011 under the so-called "Laura's Law," may not be harsh enough.

"This guy doesn't deserve any sort of consideration. He's not giving any consideration to you and I when he gets behind the wheel," Robison said.

McManus remains in the Union County Jail on a $20,000 bond and will face a judge on the latest charges on Feb. 8.

WSOC