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Youngstown man arraigned on felony DUI has at least eight priors
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man who tried to get into the municipal court Veterans Treatment Court program was instead rearrested after prosecutors learned he has at least eight prior convictions of driving while under the influence.
Robert McQuillan, 56, of Southern Boulevard, was arraigned in municipal court Wednesday for a third-degree felony for his latest arrest, July 12, in Youngstown, which would be at least his ninth if he’s convicted.
This is also the second felony DUI offense McQuillan is accused of, because he has at least six DUIs in the last 20 years and because in his latest arrest July 12, he registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.232 according to court documents, almost three times the legal limit in Ohio.
In Ohio, the legal limit is 0.08. The potential maximum sentence if he is convicted is three years in prison, of which 120 days must be served.
City Prosecutor Dana Lantz said that she came across McQuillan’s prior convictions when she researched his application to have his case heard in the court’s special treatment court for veterans.
Lantz said that is when she discovered the prior convictions, which range back in his court file to 1988.
Felony offenders are barred from taking part in the program, even for a misdemeanor DUI. Lantz said they could participate in any treatment programs the court offers.
Veterans can apply to participate in the treatment court who have been charged with a nonviolent misdemeanor offense and who also have a clinical diagnosis of substance dependence, a mental-health disease, traumatic brain injury or a co-occurring disorder.
If they complete the treatment program, they can avoid going to jail.
McQuillan told Judge Elizabeth Kobly that he was surprised he was arrested Wednesday and charged with a felony because he was taking care of the case in the veterans court, but Lantz said McQuillan had to have known he was not eligible to have his case heard there.
“He’s very well aware he’s been previously convicted of a felony,” Lantz said.
Judge Kobly set his bond at $25,000.
His court file shows DUI cases from Poland, Columbiana County and Newton Falls in 1988, Struthers in 1998, Campbell in 2001 and other convictions in 1994 and 1995. Lantz said his arrest in Youngstown was his first DUI arrest in the city.
In 2009, McQuillan was charged with felony DUI in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Court records show he served 174 days in jail before pleading guilty and was given a 60-day suspended sentence, with credit for the time served.
Court records also show several arrests on charges of domestic violence, robbery and theft.