A Millersville man was sentenced this week to 18 to 48 months in state prison after he pleaded guilty in October to crashing into a group of parked vehicles as he was driving while under the influence in 2023 – his third DUI conviction in the last 10 years.

Judge Jeffrey Conrad sentenced Leonel Rodriguez Jr., of the first block of South Prince Street, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of driving under the influence, one count of a second offense of driving while operating privilege is DUI suspended and five summary traffic offenses.

Part of the reasoning behind imposing the lengthy prison sentence was Deana’s Law, which requires consecutive penalties for repeat DUI offenders.

Rodriguez, 35, was previously convicted of DUIs in 2014 and 2016.

State legislators have enacted laws requiring judges to treat offenders who repeatedly drive under the influence seriously, Judge Conrad said, and the hefty sentence imposed on Monday was in keeping with that directive.

In addition to the state prison sentence, Rodriguez is also required to pay more than $13,000 in restitution.

Rodriguez, 35, crashed into three legally parked vehicles in the 600 block of West Orange Street in Lancaster city in the early morning hours of May 14, 2023.

Officers who responded to the crash immediately noticed Rodriguez’ slurred speech, unsteady gait and bloodshot eyes. Rodriguez admitted to police to using “shrooms” and consuming alcohol before driving.

A toxicology report showed Rodriguez had a BAC of 0.284% within two hours of the crash.

Lancaster Safety Coalition video showed Rodriguez driving erratically throughout the city prior to the crash, failing to use his turn signal while changing lanes, failing to stop at a red light and failing to stay within a single lane of traffic.

Assistant District Attorney Kyle Linardo prosecuted the case.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Micaela Heckman filed the charges.