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Man's life sentence justly fits his case

It is sad to think that lifetime removal from society is the only recourse in dealing with a lawbreaking driver.

But that was the only legal possibility for a judge sentencing a 20-time drunken driver in Batavia, Ohio. It also was the only solution that made sense.

Consider that Charles Jodrey, 56, of Milford:

• Has been convicted at least 20 times of drunken driving since the 1960s.
• Killed a man in 1984 while driving drunk.
• Had six of the convictions after serving a 10-year prison term for involuntary manslaughter.
• Used names of dead childhood friends to get phony licenses.

Jodrey was sentenced Tuesday to 28 years in prison. The judge said it amounted to a life sentence because he is not eligible for parole.

''There is nothing to do except put you in prison for as long as the law allows,'' The AP reported Clermont County Judge Robert Ringland as saying. ''You are a person for whom jail has no effect except to keep you off the road.''

Jodrey apologized and said he is an alcoholic.

He may be addicted to alcohol. But he is not addicted to cars.

He's a grown person who has made too many bad choices and had too many chances.

Given the number of times he has been in contact with drunken driving laws, it can be assumed that he anticipated spending all or most of the rest of his life behind bars.

That's where he, and anyone else like him, belongs.

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