Corvallis Man Gets 20 Years For 9th DUI

A Corvallis man who crashed his motorcycle while intoxicated was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his ninth conviction of driving under the influence.

District Judge Jeffrey Langton sentenced 57-year-old Robert Alan Bratten Wednesday.

Bratten was charged after an April 9 motorcycle crash. A test at the hospital found his blood alcohol level was 0.298, more than three times the legal limit for driving in Montana.

Ravalli County prosecutor Angela Wetzsteon noted that four of Bratten's DUI arrests occurred while he was under supervision and sought a prison sentence of 20 years with 10 suspended. The defense recommended a five-year suspended sentence and alcohol treatment.

Langton designated Bratten a persistent felony offender and said he wouldn't suspend his sentence because he didn't think Bratten could succeed while on parole.

Assocaited Press