A 51-year-old man convicted 10 times of drunken driving was sent to prison for five years yesterday.

"I know I was wrong. I really do need some help," Manuel Texeira III told Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario.

Texeira was sentenced after pleading guilty earlier this year to two counts of being a habitual DUI offender.

He had previously been convicted of eight other DUI charges.

"He continuously and habitually has operated a vehicle while impaired," Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Laura Maeshiro told Del Rosario.

Maeshiro asked the judge to sentence Texeira to consecutive five-year prison terms, arguing that he is a danger to the public and has a history of drunken driving convictions dating to 1985.

"He's not a young kid," the prosecutor said. "He's had opportunities to take care of his substance abuse or alcohol abuse problems."

Texeira's lawyer, Deputy Public Defender David Williams, asked for a sentence of a year in jail, probation and completion of an alcohol treatment program.

"He is an alcoholic," Williams said.

Texeira "is a good man who has a problem and poor judgment," the defense lawyer said. "He is remorseful. He knows he has hit rock bottom and needs help."

Del Rosario questioned Texeira about why he hadn't sought treatment for his alcoholism sooner.

"I tried once," Texeira answered, saying the program where he applied "didn't accept me."

Del Rosario then sentenced Texeira to the five-year prison term.

"You need help. You need to be in a structured environment," the judge said.

"You haven't been able to help yourself," Del Rosario said.