A suspected serial drunken driver remains in prison while awaiting a list of pending cases.

Dean M. Minto, 45, of East Butler landed in the Butler County Prison after law enforcement authorities learned he had failed to enter a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility as promised.

“I think we're all better off where he's at,” county District Attorney Richard Goldinger said Tuesday.

Minto is accused of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol — or both — on county roads four times since March.

His most recent cases were filed last week after Butler Township police and Butler police arrested him on consecutive days for driving while impaired by cocaine and methadone, according to court documents.

But Minto's no show June 8 in county DUI Court for two other drunken driving cases is why he's in prison, officially.

He is being held without bail, pending his next court date — either a still-to-be-scheduled DUI Court appearance or a bond hearing.

But how Minto ended up behind bars did not follow the usual track.

He was allowed to remain free on non-monetary bond after his first two arrests this year, March 2 for driving under the influence of a controlled substance in Jackson Township and April 3 for drugged driving in Summit Township.

By the end of April he had waived charges in both cases to court. He subsequently was notified to appear at DUI Court on June 8.

But on May 8, Butler Township police arrested Minto for driving on drugs after officers found him passed out in his car about 12:20 p.m. in a Route 68 store parking lot.

He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital for a blood test and treatment for his intoxication.

The next day he was released from the hospital and was again free to drive while Butler Township police awaited toxicology reports.

On May 9, Butler police said, Minto crashed his car into the back of another vehicle on West New Castle Street, injuring two women in the other vehicle.

He was arrested for suspicion of drugged driving and taken to Butler Memorial for another blood draw. City police, too, were left to await toxicology results

Meanwhile, Goldinger, aware of the mounting cases against Minto and concerned for the safety of other motorists, sought to get him off the road and in the county prison.

On May 28, Goldinger filed a motion to revoke Minto's non-monetary bond set in the initial drugged driving cases. A hearing on the motion was set for June 8, to coincide with Minto's previously scheduled DUI Court date.

But the hearing was continued after Goldinger was told that Minto had entered an inpatient rehabilitation facility.

Butler Township police on June 9 charged Minto with driving on drugs. A day later, Butler police filed similar charges against him.

On June 10, Goldinger said he learned that Minto was not only not in rehab, but he was allegedly engaged in criminal activity.

Goldinger said his office got a call from “someone who knows Minto” that he was “out using (drugs).”

“I thought he was in rehab,” the DA admitted.

Instead, he was told that Minto was on a waiting list for a Fayette County rehabilitation center.

“I wasn't happy when I realized he wasn't in rehab,” Goldinger said, “and he didn't show up for court.”

Goldinger on Thursday filed for a bench warrant to arrest Minto for failing to appear for court June 8.

“He did not show up for DUI Court and he was not in rehab even though he was available to do so,” Goldinger said in explaining his decision.

Butler County Judge Tim McCune signed the warrant and sheriff's deputies Thursday morning picked up Minto, who was placed in county prison.

He will remain jailed at least until his next DUI court appearance or until his attorney, Kevin Flaherty, the county's chief public defender, seeks a bond hearing.

Flaherty did not return a telephone call Tuesday.

Goldinger said he plans to argue for a “substantial bond with conditions” should Minto seek bail.