A rural Brookings County man who this week pleaded guilty to his seventh lifetime DUI has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and can never have a driver's license again.

David Leamons, 48, was convicted on Tuesday of one count of driving under the influence. It's his fifth felony DUI conviction in the past 10 years, and he has two prior misdemeanor DUI convictions on his record as well.

Authorities arrested Leamons on the afternoon of Aug. 11, on Sixth Street, after he had been drinking in downtown Brookings. Officer warned man

State's Attorney Clyde Calhoon said a Brookings police officer watched the defendant walk from a bar to his vehicle in downtown Brookings that day and warned him not to drive. A police report says Leamons started walking to a local motel but went back to his vehicle after realizing he didn't have the money to pay for a room.

Another officer saw him get into his car and start driving, and Leamons was reportedly weaving in his lane of traffic before being pulled over on Sixth Street.

Leamons entered his guilty plea in Brookings County Circuit Court this week after waiving his right to a lawyer, doing so despite the strong recommendation of Judge Vincent Foley that he apply for a courtappointed attorney.

Before sentencing, Calhoon told the judge that the defendant had a .288 blood-alcohol level at the time of his arrest, and he's a danger to society.

"The problem is not his drinking. The problem is his drinking and driving. "¦ I don't know what can be done."

Foley agreed and told the defendant, "Your choice to drive when drinking puts everybody at risk. "¦ I can't give you a break." Lost license for life

After sentencing Leamons to 10 years in the state penitentiary, the judge ordered him to pay $73 in court costs and revoked his driver's license for the rest of his natural life.

In exchange for his guilty plea to the DUI, a charge of driving with a revoked license was dismissed. Leamons will also get credit for time served in the Brookings County Detention Center since his arrest.

The maximum sentence for a fifth or subsequent DUI is 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister.com.