10th DUI Leads to 18 Year Sentence — Judge Judy SLAMS the Woman!
Serial Drunk Driver Sentenced to 18 Years After Judge Judy Exposes Decade of Privilege and Reckless Violence
.
.
.
Los Angeles —
A nationally televised courtroom hearing ended in a devastating reckoning this week as Judge Judy Sheindlin exposed a decade-long pattern of drunk driving, entitlement, and total lack of remorse that left multiple families permanently shattered.
The defendant, Patricia Marlo, 52, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after overwhelming evidence revealed she had driven under the influence ten times over 12 years, repeatedly escaping serious punishment through wealth and legal maneuvering—until her final crash nearly wiped out an entire family.
A History of Repeated Offenses
Court records show Marlo’s first DUI arrest occurred in 2010, when her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measured 0.14, nearly twice the legal limit. Represented by an expensive attorney paid for by her wealthy father, the charge was reduced to reckless driving.
That pattern continued. Over the next decade, Marlo was arrested nine more times, with BAC levels ranging as high as 0.26, levels that medical experts say typically cause unconsciousness. Despite this, she repeatedly received reduced charges, minimal jail time, or probation—conditions she frequently violated.
By 2014, Marlo’s conduct turned catastrophic.
A Teenager Paralyzed, a Life Destroyed
In her fifth DUI offense, Marlo struck another vehicle at a busy intersection, paralyzing Emily Rodriguez, a 19-year-old college student on a full volleyball scholarship with plans to attend medical school. The collision severed Rodriguez’s spine at the T12 level, leaving her permanently unable to walk.
Rodriguez accumulated more than $1.2 million in medical bills over the following years and lost her scholarship, athletic career, and independence. Marlo served only nine months of an 18-month sentence before returning to live in her parents’ guesthouse with a monthly allowance.
Six months later, she was arrested again for drunk driving.
The Crash That Ended the Pattern
The case that finally stopped Marlo occurred on October 15, 2022, in a school zone just three blocks from a soccer field.
That morning, Michael Torres, 41, an electrical engineer, was driving his wife Jessica and their three children to a weekend soccer game when Marlo’s Mercedes SUV struck their minivan head-on at 65 mph in a 25 mph zone. Surveillance footage later showed Marlo had consumed four alcoholic drinks in 90 minutes at a country club before getting behind the wheel.
Her BAC at the time of the crash measured 0.31, nearly four times the legal limit.
The injuries were catastrophic:
Michael Torres suffered a traumatic brain injury and skull fracture, permanently altering his cognitive function
Jessica Torres sustained a shattered pelvis requiring multiple surgeries
Their 8-year-old daughter suffered a broken leg and facial scarring
One of the 6-year-old twins spent three weeks in pediatric intensive care
Medical expenses eventually exceeded $487,000, while lost income and long-term care costs are expected to surpass $2 million over the family’s lifetime.
Evidence That Changed Everything
Judge Judy revealed she had spent days reviewing Marlo’s full criminal history, police reports, medical records, and surveillance footage. But the most damaging evidence was a recorded jail phone call Marlo made to her father just hours after her arrest.
In the recording, Marlo dismissed the Torres family’s injuries as “nothing,” denied being intoxicated, and demanded her father “make this go away like last time.” The call showed no remorse—only anger at being held accountable.
“That recording proves you feel no remorse whatsoever,” Judge Judy stated in court. “You are not sorry you hurt them. You are sorry you were finally caught.”
The Ruling
Judge Judy ruled in favor of the Torres family, awarding the full $750,000 judgment sought in damages. After insurance payments, Marlo remains personally liable for $250,000, to be garnished from any income or assets she receives for life.
She then referred the case directly to the district attorney, recommending sentencing under habitual offender statutes.
Prosecutors confirmed they would pursue the maximum 18-year prison sentence, citing Marlo’s extensive history, escalating alcohol levels, and the recorded evidence of indifference toward her victims.
National Impact
Within 24 hours of the episode airing, courtroom footage surpassed 40 million views across social media platforms. Public reaction was swift. Advocacy groups cited the case as a stark example of how wealth can delay accountability in the justice system.
In the aftermath, 17 states introduced or passed tougher repeat-DUI legislation, while a public fundraising campaign raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the Torres family’s ongoing medical and rehabilitation costs.
A Final Message
As Marlo was taken into custody, she continued to protest the ruling, insisting she was being treated unfairly. Judge Judy offered a final response that resonated far beyond the courtroom:
“You had nine chances to change. You chose alcohol over human life every single time. Now you will spend 18 years paying for that choice.”
For many viewers, the case became a rare moment where long-avoided consequences finally arrived—on camera, and without exception.
