By Shereen Siewert
A Wausau man is facing his ninth drunken driving charge, seven months after finishing a prison term for his eighth offense.
Court records show Scot T. Newcomer, 56, was on extended supervision at the time of his Nov. 2 arrest, which also comes on the heels of an October arrest for driving with a revoked license.
Charges against Newcomer were filed Nov. 4 in Marathon County Circuit Court, where Judge LaMont Jacobson ordered the suspect held on a $50,000 cash bond.
Wausau Police were called at 6:43 p.m. Nov. 2 to a North Third Avenue gas station for a report of a possible intoxicated driver who appeared unable to stand, according to court documents. When police caught up with Newcomer, who had left the gas station and was traveling south, Newcomer allegedly admitted driving but claimed the intoxicated party that was the subject of the call was actually a passenger inside Newcomer’s vehicle.
Police say Newcomer had notably slurred speech and glossy eyes, and said he had consumed a “few beers,” but he allegedly refused to undergo field sobriety testing and refused a breath test. A search of Newcomer’s vehicle turned up several bottles of alcohol, both open and unopened, the police report states.
Newcomer was transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for a chemical test of his blood, the results of which are pending.
He faces between three and 12 1/2 years in prison if he is convicted. Newcomer’s license would also be revoked for up to three years after he is released from prison, though he could apply for occupational driving privileges after 45 days.
A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 13.
