GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Village of Hobart President was in court on Wednesday after being convicted of his third drunk driving offense.
66-year-old Richard Heidel pleded guilty to OWI third offense.
He was sentenced to 80 days in jail, fined $800, placed on probation for 24 months, while he also will lose his driver’s license for 27 months.
Judge Donald Zuidmulder ordered that once his driver’s license is reinstated it must have an ignition interlock.
Heidel was also placed in the veterans court treatment program.
The following statement was read by Heidel prior to sentencing:
First of all, I and I alone take full responsibility for this crime. As I stated in my letter to you and as the responsible individual pleading guilty to this charge, I apologize to the court, to the public it serves and to my family and loved ones for my decision-making. As I also publicly and voluntarily stated in a television interview several weeks ago, there is no excuse, no good reason for drinking and driving. No one is more disappointed by this incident than me.
I know enough to have already begun working a 12-step program, and have been faithful in doing so from the time of this incident through the present moment — exactly 90 days as of today. I have also already commenced AODA counseling at Bellin. My hope and my will is set upon the satisfactory performance and completion my involvement in the veterans treatment court, ultimately becoming an example and mentor myself.
This role will help me complete the 12th step of my recovery program, which is service to other alcoholics. This service must endure for the rest of my life as this is part of the antidote that helps keep the disease of alcoholism in remission. And, this service will allow me to serve those who have also served as veterans. My grandfather, a highly-decorated World War I veteran, died in a hospice clinic at Wood VA hospital in Milwaukee as a broken alcoholic, suffering from what we call today PTSD.
Without working this recovery, alcoholism is a terminal disease. In conclusion, and as I also wrote in my letter to you, your Honor, other than these words, and the last 90 days of sobriety, I have nothing else to offer as proof of my determination and goal. My actions will continue to demonstrate what my words cannot. And what makes my sobriety so necessary is that there is no other viable option. By keeping this vow, my recovery will keep me.
Immediately after the hearing, he was taken from court to jail in handcuffs, which is required by state law.
Back on February 1, Heidel crashed his car into a ditch, failed field sobriety tests, and was arrested.
According to the prosecutor, his blood alcohol level was .211.
His previous drunk driving convictions are from incidents on July 6, 1997, and June 3, 2005.
