Man sentenced for seventh lifetime DUI

COEUR d’ALENE — A man who pleaded guilty to his seventh lifetime instance of driving under the influence received a probation sentence, according to the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Richard J. Rehl, 60, pleaded guilty in April to excessive driving under the influence, possession of an open container by a driver, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors. Excessive DUI is punishable by up to one year in jail. 

First District Judge Tristan Poorman sentenced Rehl last week to two years in jail, then suspended the sentence and placed Rehl on supervised probation for two years, prosecutors said. Rehl’s driver’s license is also suspended for one year. 

The charges stem from April 19, after prosecutors said a witness called 911 to report Rehl “stumbling around before driving away in a vehicle.” According to prosecutors, police pulled Rehl over and he provided three breath samples, revealing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.22, 0.24 and 0.23, almost three times the legal limit.