Man Sentenced to Prison After Pleading Guilty to 8th DUI Since 2010

Keith Heffintrayer | North Penn Now•

A Delaware man is headed to state prison after pleading guilty to his 8^th DUI since 2010.

Frederick Cromartie, 48, was sentenced to two to seven years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a felony charge of DUI – fourth and subsequent offense. Cromartie had been scheduled to stand trial on Wednesday prior to pleading guilty, court records show.

Cromartie was charged with felony DUI along with summary charges of failing to stop at a red signal, disregarding traffic lanes, careless driving and driving on a suspended license, following a traffic stop in Montgomeryville in May 2021.

According to the complaint, Montgomery Township Police were dispatched to northbound Bethlehem Pike near Enclave Boulevard at 1:28 p.m. on May 22, 2021, for a report of a reckless driver. Dispatched indicated that a white Dodge Caravan with Delaware registration was driving erratically and swerving.

Police located the vehicle near the intersection of Bethlehem Pike and North Wales Road and observed the vehicle travel through a red light at the Five Points intersection without stopping, the report states. Police said they continued to follow the vehicle northbound on Bethlehem Pike as the vehicle swerved between lanes, and initiated a traffic stop near JL Freed Honda.

As the vehicle slowed to a stop, it nearly struck the curb before swerving back into the roadway, police said.

Once the vehicle was stopped, police made contact with the driver — identified as Cromartie — who was described as having droopy eyelids, depressed reflexes and heavily slurred speech, the report states. Cromartie told police that he was travelling to Philadelphia, despite driving in the opposite direction, police said.

The report states that when Cromartie was asked to exit the vehicle for a series of field sobriety tests, he had to keep one hand on the vehicle at all times to maintain balance. He would go on to show numerous indicators of impairment via the field sobriety tests, according to the complaint.

The results of a chemical blood test are pending, police said.

Cromartie was arraigned later that evening by Magisterial District Judge Katherine McGill, who set bail at 10% of $25,000 cash. He was initially remanded to county jail, however he later posted bail and has remained free until Wednesday’s hearing.

Police said Cromartie has seven prior DUI convictions, dating back to 2010. Those convictions include: