[14] Bmw Bridgewater Becomes Today Highlight

A man who refused a chemical breath test after being arrested for fourth-offense drunken driving has now lost his license for at least five years.

WEST BRIDGEWATER — A Brockton man who was accused of drinking drunk for the fourth time when he rear-ended a police cruiser lost his license for at least five years when he refused a breathalyzer.

William Shea, 56, of 131 Talbot St., Brockton, was arrested and charged with fourth-offense drunken driving, obstructing a stationary emergency vehicle and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, on Jan. 2.

West Bridgewater police Sgt. Jonathan Craven had stopped another car near 757 West Center St., on Route 106, about 9:13 p.m., when he was struck from behind by a BMW sedan driven by Shea, police said.

The Enterprise recently obtained a copy of Shea's driving record, which is four pages long and has over 30 entries.

Because it was his fourth time being charged with drunken driving and he refused to take a chemical sobriety test, Shea's license was automatically suspended for five years.

Anyone in Massachusetts who is charged with drunken driving for the first time and refuses a breathalyzer test loses his or her license for 180 days. After a conviction and refused breath test, the suspension is increased to three years. But a third-offense or higher arrest results in a loss of license for five years.

During his arraignment, Shea was held without bail pending a detention hearing. At that dangerousness hearing in Brockton District Court last week, bail was set at $5,000.

According to the clerk's office, Shea has not been released as he's ordered to use a SCRAM continuous alcohol monitoring device if he posts bail and none of the machines are currently available at the courthouse.

Shea has previously been charged three times with drunken driving. Two of the cases were continued without a finding and another resulted in a suspended sentence. The previous incidents occurred twice in 1977 and once in 1981.

He posted $840 the night of his recent arrest, but owes the remaining $4,160 balance to be released.

If convicted, Shea faces a license suspension for 10 years, a fine between $1,500 and $25,000 and between 2 and 2 1/2 years in jail or between 2 1/2 and 5 years in prison.