Karen Mace

LOCK HAVEN — Karen Mace, 43, of 4th Street, Renovo, was in court this week, facing sentencing in four criminal cases, including a pair of DUIs while under the influence of crack cocaine.

On Tuesday, Judge Michael F. Salisbury imposed sentences that totaled a maximum of 96 months in state prison, with parole eligibility after the first 18 months are served, according to a release from District Attorney Dave Strouse’s office via Crimewatch.

Mace was arrested for her first DUI in October of 2023 after she drove to the Clinton County Courthouse for a pending probation violation for a pair of prior Bad Check convictions, the release said.

“Mace appeared for court that morning visibly under the influence of controlled substances, and police discovered she had driven to the courthouse with a minor child passenger,” the release stated.

Lock Haven City Police responded to the courthouse that morning and took Mace into custody. Mace was released on bail in November of 2023, and would later be arrested for another DUI in January of 2024 when she was observed operating a motor vehicle in the vicinity of Renovo Elementary School with a minor child occupant, and again visibly under the influence of controlled substances, the release said.

Renovo Police responded after teachers and staff members followed Mace out of safety concerns. Mace would be denied bail following her second DUI arrest, the release said.

At sentencing, Mace told Judge Salisbury she was committed to her sobriety and asked the court for a county sentence, actually asking for a time-served sentence, according to the release.

The Commonwealth, represented by Strouse, argued for a state prison sentence in light of the repeated danger that Mace posed to the community, especially children, the release said.

According to the release, Judge Salisbury found that county jail was not sufficient in Mace’s situation.

Salisbury stated Mace was clearly a substantial risk to re-offend, and told Mace that he believed her only chance of success was likely the State Drug Treatment Program offered through the Department of Corrections, the release said.