By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — A Marathon County judge this week sentenced a Wausau man convicted of his eighth drunken driving offense to four years in prison, followed by five years on extended supervision.
Kelly G. Powers, 56, was pulled over at about 2:34 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, on E. Campus Drive at Cherry Street in Wausau after an officer allegedly observed Powers drifting into the lane of oncoming traffic, according to the police report. Fearing Powers might cause a crash, the officer activated his emergency lights and Powers pulled over about a block later, police said.
Judge orders 4 years prison for Wausau man in 8th OWI casePowers, who told officers he was en route to a convenience store to buy a pizza, struggled to maintain his balance and stumbled while undergoing field sobriety tests, police said.
According to the police report, a preliminary breath test showed Powers was driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.065 percent, which is below the 0.08 limit set for drivers in Wisconsin. But Powers, who was previously convicted of OWI in 1990, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2010 and in 2013, is subject to a 0.02 percent BAC limit due to his prior history.
At a sentencing hearing Tuesday, Circuit Judge Mike Moran also ordered Powers to pay a $2,452 fine and complete a driver’s safety program. Powers will be eligible to reinstate his driving privileges in three years.
