Westerly man has 5th DUI conviction

Peggy Sue Long is hoping the man responsible for her brother's death in 1984 finally "gets it" following his fifth conviction for drunken driving.

Long has been monitoring the case of James M. Pratt of Westerly, who was charged in April with driving the wrong way on the Route 2 overpass near Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Pratt's repeat offenses over more than 26 years have angered survivors of Long's brother Billy Collins, who was just 19 years old when Pratt's car slammed into his motorcycle in North Stonington.

In April, just a few days after the anniversary of Collins' death, Pratt was charged in the wrong-way incident and did not hold a valid driver's license.

Pratt, 46, was sentenced Thursday to six months in prison and 18 months probation for first-degree reckless endangerment, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and reckless driving.

Although Pratt is a five-time offender and was convicted of negligent homicide in Collins death, the court could have treated his most recent arrest as a first offense because offenses are removed from driving records after 10 years, and his last conviction was in 1998.

"We were able to extrapolate back to see that this was not his first offense," said prosecutor Peter A. McShane. "Therefore, we file amended information charging him with a more serious offense."

Pratt initially was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while his license is suspended and failing to carry insurance. He pleaded guilty to the upgraded charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and reckless driving.

Police had released Pratt on a $500 bond following his arrest in April, but Judge Kevin P. McMahon increased the bond to $99,000 cash after learning of Pratt's record. Pratt has remained incarcerated while his case was pending. His court appearance Thursday was brief, but Long, who said her family was never the same after her brother's death, had addressed the judge at an earlier court appearance. She said her parents, now deceased, had kept track of Pratt's recurring offenses while they were alive, and that she felt the need to follow up.

"I pray to God he can get the help he needs," said Long. "He was a kid when this happened. I understand that accidents happen, but he was a perpetual drinker, a perpetual addict. It's about time he takes responsibility for his actions."

While on probation, Pratt has to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and seek any treatment that is deemed necessary. He is not to drive without a valid license. Pratt's attorney, T.J. Morelli-Wolfe, declined to comment on the case.