CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man was sentenced on his 36th birthday Friday to 23 months to five years in prison for his second felony drunken-driving conviction.

Dean Kietzer, 409 First Ave., pleaded guilty Jan. 4 to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, open container and driving with a suspended license.

Kietzer’s attorney, Dale Blunier of Edwardsburg, told Judge Michael Dodge his client has a “serious drinking problem.”

Kietzer was arrested Dec. 27 when he was stopped while driving his girlfriend’s vehicle. He took a breath test, which registered a 0.21 blood alcohol level.

However, when he was taken to the hospital for what he claims was an “anxiety attack,” a blood test revealed he actually registered at 0.32.

“The fact he could even drive with a 0.32 (blood alcohol level) shows a very high tolerance for drinking,” Blunier said. Kietzer told Dodge he doesn’t “do drugs anymore, and that’s the reason I failed on probation the first time.”

Kietzer has numerous previous felony convictions on his record.