MASON CITY – A Mason City man arrested for drunk driving for at least the fifth time entered a guilty plea and is now serving a jail sentence.
Dana Lee Despenas, age 48, was pulled over by law enforcement at about 12:45 AM on October 31, 2014 at 4th Street and Pierce Avenue for a traffic stop. Officers suspected Despenas was intoxicated, and he was placed under arrest after an investigation. He was charged with operating while under the influence, second offense.
Despenas agreed to plead guilty on June 3 to a charge of second offense operating while intoxicated. He was sentenced to a 60 day jail sentence with all but 7 days suspended. He was given a year of probation, ordered to submit a DNA sample and required to pay $2,641.25 in fines and court fees.
Despenas has been charged with drunk driving at least five times, court records show.
The first time was on June 10, 2000, and the charge was dismissed (he was charged with second offense operating while intoxicated). The second time was on October 21, 2001, and the charge was dismissed (he was charged with second offense operating while intoxicated). The third time was on December 17, 2001, and the charge was dismissed (he was charged with second offense operating while intoxicated). The fourth time was on August 2, 2012 and he was found guilty of first offense operating while intoxicated.
PLED GUILTY
this is why booze is the biggest drug abuse problem in Iowa, the legislators and courts are comprised of people who drink and are disinclined to do anything about it lest they be subsject to it themselves someday
Owner of. Homers. And rock falls bar still drinks drives. Black Chevy. Truck from. Homers. Every. Day. Are. State. Police. Sleeping
Ask him about. Cartoon doing 50. In Clarinda or the 500 00. You riped me off it ain’t over
KYS
What the heck.. Keep this potential killer off the roads.
Looks like the family is applying political pressure.
Explain the political pressure. Don’t know if any Despenas that has clout in this town. What do u know LVS!! Thanks.
Family has money and money is political power. Just saying it could happen. Don’t know if it did but it is really strange to have that many DUI dismissed. The police are pretty good about having proof on that.
just look at his beautiful jet black hair, must have a good supply of black shoe polish to keep the hair nice. What a waste of breath, money can buy you a pretty good attorney huh Dana.
Law enforcement should make sure there stops are legal and not in violation of the 4th amendment. If you support the 2nd you should also support the 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th. All the other should be supported as well.
Money can pretty much buy you out of anything. And I wonder if he is using the sick child to get out being prosecuted for all of these duis.
Why on earth is he allowed to be behind the wheel at all? He needs prison time, not jail time. Five owis, what is wrong with our court system? Are they waiting for him to kill someone?
If he kills my grandchild I can tell you right now he won’t be driving drunk a 6th time.
He was arrested but NOT convicted on all the charges.
Probably because he had a really, really good lawyer. Still doesn’t make it right.