A habitual traffic offender pleaded guilty to her fifth DUI in Montezuma County Court on Wednesday in a plea agreement that reduces the felony charge to a misdemeanor.

Alexandra Silas was arrested in the McDonald’s drive-thru in Cortez on Feb. 13. An officer parked and approached the vehicle by foot at the drive-thru window in response to a report of an intoxicated driver. Her driver’s license was previously revoked, and she admitted to drinking a can of malt liquor about 1.5 hours before, according to a Cortez police report.

Judge JenniLynn Lawrence said she was hesitant to accept the misdemeanor plea because Silas’ most recent prior DUI was in 2014. She asked Deputy District Attorney Matthew Margeson to make a record of why a misdemeanor is appropriate.

Margeson said the plea agreement includes an open sentence, giving the judge more leeway during sentencing on April 10.

Lawrence accepted the guilty plea and ordered that Silas be screened for DUI court.

sdolan@the-journal.com