After driving with a suspended license from a previous OVI conviction, a man will spend the next 12 months in prison for accumulating his sixth OVI in 20 years.

On March 2, a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Linden Avenue, near Adair Avenue, and found 36 year-old David Arbuckle to be the driver.

The trooper could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the car upon approaching the vehicle. Arbuckle explained to the trooper that he had one or two drinks, but that he was just driving his friend, the passenger, home as she was too intoxicated to drive herself, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gerald Anderson stated during Arbuckle’s plea hearing.

At the time of the incident, Arbuckle admitted to not having a license as it was suspended from  previous OVI convictions, Anderson said.

• Also read: Attempting to drive intoxicated friend home, man gets cited for sixth OVI

On June 17, Arbuckle pleaded guilty to one fourth-degree felony count of OVI — six in 20 years, one fourth-degree misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one minor misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

When the trooper was searching the vehicle Arbuckle was driving, a marijuana pipe, as well as a meth pipe were recovered.

During Arbuckle’s sentencing, Judge Mark Fleegle said it was “surprising” that Arbuckle’s OVI charges had not reached the felony level up until this point.

Previously stated at his plea hearing, prior to the March 2 incident, Arbuckle was cited for OVIs in 2003, twice in 2005, 2014 and 2016.

Monday morning, Arbuckle said he was looking forward to his sobriety and regaining his family once he’s out of prison.

In addition to his 12-month prison sentence, Arbuckle was ordered to pay $1,500 in fines, and his license was suspended for five years.