From NOLA.com
David Kornahrens had never faced serious jail time during a long career of drinking and driving — even when his drunken driving killed someone in a 1983 crash in Texas, he only spent about a year behind bars.
But the 54-year-old Mandeville resident has finally received a stiff sentence. He was convicted of fourth-offense DWI in February, which carries a sentence of at least 10 but no more than 30 years in prison. Late last month, state Judge Allison Penzato sentenced him to 25 years.
The tough sentence is appropriate. Mr. Kornahrens has been endangering other people for many years, in this state and others. His conviction for fourth-offense DWI doesn’t give the full picture, since Louisiana law categorizes any offense after the third as “fourth and subsequent” offenses.
Courts here and in Texas treated Mr. Kornahrens leniently. While he was sentenced to seven years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and five years for DWI — to be served concurrently — Texas authorities paroled him after only about a year. Shortly thereafter, he was given probation for yet another DWI without any effect on his parole. ….MORE