The 16th conviction for driving while impaired may be enough to keep James Edward Emanuel off the highways.
District Attorney Jon David announced Wednesday that Emanual, 56, was found guilty of habitual driving while impaired and habitual felon in Columbus County Superior Court. Emanuel was sentenced to nine years, nine months in prison by Superior Court Judge Douglas Sasser.
David said in a news release that Emanuel was clocked doing more than 85 miles per hour when he was stopped by a Columbus County Sheriff’s Deputy on Old Lumberton Road in 2019. Emanuel had an open beer in the cupholder and a strong smell of alcohol was present inn the car, the release said.
The Highway Patrol administered a Breathalyzer that showed Emanuel had a blood alcohol level of .10, over the legal limit. Emanuel admitted to officers that he was driving on a revoked license.
The arrest last year was Emanuel’s 16th for driving while impaired, David said. In one of those convictions, Emanuel was also found guilty of felony death by vehicle in Robeson County.
“We want to give a special thank you to our partners with the N.C. Highway Patrol and Columbus County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication to highway safety,” David said in the release.
