MONROE - A Monroe man was sentenced to six months in jail Monday after pleading no contest to a fifth-offense charge of driving while intoxicated.
David Allan Wenger, 54, faces a withheld sentence of 18 months of probation, with the condition of the first six months of probation to be served in jail, after pleading no contest to his fifth drunk-driving charge, a Class H felony. Another Class H felony charge of fifth-offense driving with a prohibited blood alcohol content and a misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia was dismissed.
Wenger was charged after an incident on May 24, 2015, when a police officer saw Wenger make a left turn onto 8th Avenue in Monroe without signaling. When the officer pulled Wenger over, Wenger left his vehicle and told the officer to "just come up and arrest me, I'm drunk."
According to the police report, Wenger told the arresting officer that his name should be familiar to law enforcement by now. Wenger's previous drunk driving conviction occurred in 2006.
In court on Monday, Wenger's attorney, Jonas Bednarek, said Wenger was at "rock bottom" when he was arrested, but had recovered significantly since then. Wenger said he has been drug- and alcohol-free for almost six months.
"It was the hardest thing I ever had to do," Wenger said of his sobriety.
Bednarek said Wenger's repeated drunk-driving offenses - which occurred in 1993, 1996, 2004 and 2006 - occurred due to Wenger's habit of using alcohol to medicate his own mental health issues, which Wenger is currently combating through psychiatric help.
Both Bednarek and prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Kohl jointly proposed Wenger's 18-month probation sentence, which Green County Circuit Judge Thomas Vale accepted. Although Wenger will have work release privileges during his jail term, his driver's license is revoked for two years.
Even after Wenger's license is restored, he will be required to use a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device for an additional two years. He also must pay $1,769 in fines by the end of his probation sentence.
"I'm just glad to finally be clean," Wenger said.
David Allan Wenger, 54, faces a withheld sentence of 18 months of probation, with the condition of the first six months of probation to be served in jail, after pleading no contest to his fifth drunk-driving charge, a Class H felony. Another Class H felony charge of fifth-offense driving with a prohibited blood alcohol content and a misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia was dismissed.
Wenger was charged after an incident on May 24, 2015, when a police officer saw Wenger make a left turn onto 8th Avenue in Monroe without signaling. When the officer pulled Wenger over, Wenger left his vehicle and told the officer to "just come up and arrest me, I'm drunk."
According to the police report, Wenger told the arresting officer that his name should be familiar to law enforcement by now. Wenger's previous drunk driving conviction occurred in 2006.
In court on Monday, Wenger's attorney, Jonas Bednarek, said Wenger was at "rock bottom" when he was arrested, but had recovered significantly since then. Wenger said he has been drug- and alcohol-free for almost six months.
"It was the hardest thing I ever had to do," Wenger said of his sobriety.
Bednarek said Wenger's repeated drunk-driving offenses - which occurred in 1993, 1996, 2004 and 2006 - occurred due to Wenger's habit of using alcohol to medicate his own mental health issues, which Wenger is currently combating through psychiatric help.
Both Bednarek and prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Kohl jointly proposed Wenger's 18-month probation sentence, which Green County Circuit Judge Thomas Vale accepted. Although Wenger will have work release privileges during his jail term, his driver's license is revoked for two years.
Even after Wenger's license is restored, he will be required to use a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device for an additional two years. He also must pay $1,769 in fines by the end of his probation sentence.
"I'm just glad to finally be clean," Wenger said.