4th Time Offender Sentenced For Drunk Driving, No License: Harford County Prosecutor

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A 43-year-old man has been found guilty by a jury for drunk driving and other charges.

On May 19, 2023, a citizen called 911 about a vehicle driving erratically in the wrong direction at high rates of speed. The called stated that the vehicle stopped in the Festival parking lot in Bel Air. The driver, Philip Paul Manna III, walked into the Spirits & Wine liquor store, the caller said.

A Harford County sheriff's officer and Maryland State Trooper arrived on the scene and found Manna in the driver's seat with the door open and the vehicle running. As the officers approached the vehicle, Manna turned off the vehicle, threw the keys in the back seat and ran toward a home, leaving an unopened bottle of vodka at the vehicle, according to the prosecutor.

After being questioned by the officers, who noted a strong smell of alcohol, bloodshot and glassy eyes, and nervous behavior, Manna refused to take all standard field sobriety tests then was arrested and refused the DR-15 intoximeter test, the prosecutor noted.

On the night of the first day of the trial, July 26, Manna - who did not have a driver's license - drove to a liquor store in Bel Air, which was confirmed by surveillance footage provided by the liquor store. This evidence was presented at his sentencing hearing along with information that Manna had three prior convictions for driving under the influence or impaired, as well as a previous conviction for driving without an ignition interlock and malicious destruction of property.

Mann was found guilty after the two-day trial of driving while impaired by alcohol, driving while revoked, driving on a suspended license, driving without the required license and driving without an ignition interlock as required. The judge sentenced Mann to seven years suspend all but 3.5 years.

“Driving under the influence of alcohol is a senseless and completely preventable crime, while also being a crime that puts the lives of our entire community at risk. As a fourth time offender and given the egregious nature of the defendant’s behavior both during the incident question and while this trial was ongoing, it was imperative that he be removed from the community to ensure the safety of Harford County’s citizens. Our office will continue to pursue significant periods of incarceration for subsequent offenders of any crime that continuously put the citizens of our county at risk," State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey said.