An Indian Hills man was sentenced to 7-1/2 years in Nevada State Prison on Tuesday, his third prison term for felony drunk driving.
District Judge Dave Gamble sentenced Paul Brodie, 45, to 90 months in prison and ordered him to serve 2-1/2 years before he is eligible for parole.
Brodie's lawyer, Derrick Lopez, said his client was embarrassed by his crime and believed it was divine intervention that he got arrested before he killed himself or someone else.
"He was headed on a downward spiral to his death," Lopez said. "Had it not been for this arrest, he believes he would have died. He believes it was an intervention from God in his life."
Lopez said Brodie said he was too old to continue with the lifestyle.
"He knows alcohol is a battle that he will have to fight for the rest of his life, every day," Lopez said.
"It's like a switch went off in my head," Brodie said. "I am very embarrassed and very sorry for my crime. I don't want to lose my family."
Gamble said he believed Brodie was sincere, but advised him not to use a genetic predisposition to alcohol as an excuse.
"As long as people see some kind of justification, they will never get better. You can't do this on your own. My recommendation is you stay really, deeply involved with recovery," Gamble said.
He gave Brodie credit for 77 days in Douglas County Jail.
Brodie's blood-alcohol content was .269 when he was arrested Sept. 10 while driving in Indian Hills. The legal limit for driving in Nevada is .08.
He has two prior felony convictions in Carson City in 2000 and 1996.
