Thirteen is definitely not a lucky number for a Sudbury senior with a long history of drunk driving offences.
Randall Nelson, 60, is looking at another long stint in a federal penitentiary after being convicted for the 13th time for impaired driving.
He also was convicted last week of refusing to provide a breath sample for the eighth time. Justice William Fitzgerald needed only five minutes to render his decision. Nelson?s trial was held several weeks ago.
Nelson was caught when the wife of an OPP officer was almost hit after being cut off by the vehicle Nelson was driving on Highway 17 near Nairn Centre.
The woman called her husband, who arrived on the scene and followed the vehicle and found Nelson behind the wheel the afternoon of June 6.
The officer testified it was obvious Nelson was extremely intoxicated and had a difficult time walking or communicating.
Nelson was released on bail, but was arrested once again in late July and charged with numerous counts, including obstructing justice, mischief and intimidating a witness.
Justice William Fitzgerald found Nelson guilty of impaired driving, refusing to provide a breath sample and intimidating the witness. He found him not guilty of obstructing justice and mischief and two other minor counts.
Fitzgerald said he did not believe Nelson?s defence that he could not have been the man behind the wheel because he had turned his keys over to a friend.
The arresting officer clearly identified Nelson as the driver.
The Crown is seeking a penitentiary term of three-and-a-half years.
Nelson had recently completed a sentence of two years less a day for his 12th drunk driving conviction, which came closely on the heels of a penitentiary term of two years for his 11th conviction.
Fitzgerald will impose sentence Jan. 21, 2005.
