Steele City Man Gets 60 Days for DUI

A Steele City man was sentenced to 60 days for DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs).Rory James McGrory, 59, formerly of Florida, appeared in Jefferson County Court on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Linda Bauer was the presiding judge.McGrory was originally charged with three DUIs, each a class W misdemeanor punishable by seven to 60 days in jail, a $500 fine and his license could be revoked for one year.In accordance with a plea agreement, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of DUI. The remaining charges were dismissed.McGrory was first arrested on December 6, 2021. In that case, he was also charged with DUI refusal to submit to a test, first offense, also a class W misdemeanor; refusal to submit to a pretest, a class 5 misdemeanor, which carries a $500 fine; and driving without an operator’s license, a class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a maximum sentence of three months in jail and a $500 fine.Since then, he was arrested twice more and charged with DUI each time. He was arrested a second time on January 30, 2022 and February 8, 2022.According to the citation for the defendant’s third arrest, “RORY J. MCGRORY on or about the 8th day of February, A.D. 2022 at approximately 1421 hours in the County of Jefferson, State of Nebraska, then and there being did then and there breathe, inhale, or drink any compound, liquid, or chemical containing acetate, acetone, benzene, butyl alcohol, cyclohexanone, ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, ethylene dichloride, ethylene trichloride, hexane, isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, methyl cellosolve acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, pentachlorophenol, petroleum ether, toluene, toluol, trichloroathane, trichloroethylene, or any other substance for the purpose of inducing a condition of intoxication, stupefaction, depression, giddiness, paralysis, inebriation, excitement, or irrational behavior, or in any manner changing, distorting, or disturbing the auditory, visual, mental, or nervous processes.”No details about the specific compound used is available in the court documents or were discussed in court.SentenceMcGrory was represented by Public Defender Scott Gropp, who told the judge, “My client has some anxiety about how successful he can be on probation.”McGrory has prior criminal convictions in Florida and he told the court, after being released from incarceration and coming to Jefferson County, “I did not adjust well.”“Getting behind the wheel with a drink became a habit,” said McGrory. “I know it’s not okay.”The court reviewed a PSI (Pre-Sentencing Investigation) prepared by the Office of Probation. Judge Bauer said, “I was surprised to read in the PSI that you sometimes have trouble with authority, because you've always been very respectful in here. And I appreciate that.”The judge added, “I think you probably could be successful on probation.”Nevertheless, the defendant asked for a straight sentence and he was given 60 days in jail, with credit for two days time served. He was also fined $500 and his driver’s license was revoked for one year.Judge Bauer agreed to defer the sentence to give McGrory time to get some affairs in order. He must turn himself into the Sheriff’s Office by 9:00 a.m. on Friday, August 12.Criminal HistoryThe defendant has a significant criminal record in Florida, prior to residing in Nebraska. According to a report by the Associated Press in 2006, “His Florida record includes nearly 30 arrests since 1981, including burglary, aggravated battery and carrying a concealed weapon. In 1997, he was convicted of battery on a law enforcement officer.”That same year McGrory escaped from the Land O'Lakes Detention Center in Pascoe County, Florida. A story in the Tampa Bay Times of Florida indicates he was the first inmate to do so in five years. He was recaptured after two days on the run, eventually being located in an abandoned Winnebago in New Port Richey, Florida.

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