A Mitchell woman will spend three years in prison for her fourth drunken driving conviction.
Tears began to gleam in the eyes of Charisse Rose Redlightning, 30, as she was escorted out of the courtroom Tuesday at the Davison County Public Safety Center after the judge pronounced the sentence.
Davison County State's Attorney Pat Smith said Redlightning would likely be a good citizen if she could control her alcohol problem, "but until that time, she's a danger."
Redlightning was arrested Jan. 19 after a Mitchell police officer found her slumped over the wheel of her vehicle on the 600 block of West 15th Ave.
A blood test revealed her blood alcohol content to be 0.167 around the time of her arrest. The state legal limit is 0.08.
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Redlightning's previous DUIs occurred in 2003, 2005 and 2009.
Redlightning's attorney, Doug Papendick, of Mitchell, requested his client receive a suspended prison sentence and be put on probation.
"She understands the severity of the problem," Papendick said. He recommended Redlightning be given in-patient treatment followed by time on the state 24/7 Sobriety program.
District Judge Sean O'Brien sentenced Redlightning to five years in prison with two years suspended, and ordered her driver's license be revoked for two years after her release from prison.
Redlightning's mother, Pam Redlightning, sat in the first row of the courtroom behind her daughter.
"She has had a lot of time to think about her mistakes she has made," Pam Redlightning told O'Brien before the sentence was given. "She realizes alcohol cannot be any part of her life anymore."
Charisse Redlightning declined to say anything before being sentenced.
"I'm sure you realize that alcohol cannot be part of your life like your mom said," O'Brien told Redlightning. "But I'm sure you realized that the other times you were in court awaiting sentencing."
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Redlightning received credit for the 103 days she has served in jail since her arrest.
