Eight Felony DUI's And Still Driving

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

LEXINGTON, Okla. -- Jeffrey Laughlin has been convicted eight times for felony DUI, including three arrests in one month.

Lexington Police Chief Deana Standridge said the 46-year-old has been arrested twice in her town for DUI and has a 2007 arrest for public intoxication at a convenience store.

"I believe when the officer arrived, that is what he found. Mr. Laughlin parked at the gas pumps, passed out on his riding lawnmower," Standridge said.

On October 16, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated a single-vehicle rollover accident east of Lexington. Inside they found a rifle, an open can of beer, and bottles of soma and valium, which are controlled substances.

The reports indicated Laughlin was the driver.

The Cleveland County District Attorney charged Laughlin again Monday with felony DUI, among other offenses, adding to his eight previous DUI convictions.

Standridge said she tried to talk to Laughlin about his problems.

"Actually, about a month ago I myself spoke with Mr. Laughlin on a one-to-one and just explained to him, you know, that something bad was going to happen to him or to someone else if his behavior did not cease," Standridge said. "I believe at that time that Mr. Laughlin told me that I wasn't a counselor."

Laughlin was scheduled to appear before a judge this week to face his latest DUI charge.

According to public records, Laughlin spent several years in prison for drug crimes, but he has spent only a few months in prison for his DUI convictions.

Laughlin received suspended sentences in Cleveland County on his last three DUI cases.