Jon Miner (Photo courtesy: Wisconsin Department of Corrections)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A man who took one last swig of vodka in front of an officer before being arrested on his 12th drunk driving offense – with an alleged BAC of .267 – pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Jon Miner, 58, faces four charges, including OWI-10th or more for the April 27 incident in Kaukauna. Miner waived a preliminary hearing Friday and pleaded not guilty, court records show. No trial date was set. He returns to court Oct. 31 for a pre-trial conference.
According to the complaint, an officer pulled Miner over for going 85 mph in a 70mph zone on Interstate 41. When the officer approached the vehicle, he saw an open bottle of vodka and there was “an overpowering odor of intoxicating beverages emitting from inside of the vehicle, even with both the driver and passenger windows down.”
Miner said he was coming from Tomah. The officer asked for more specifics.
“It doesn’t matter, I am drunk.” When asked how drunk he was, Jon said “Pretty drunk.” Trp. Sotka pointed to the bottle of vodka and Jon admitted to drinking from the bottle of vodka while he was driving and that he was consuming the vodka as he passed Trp. Sotka on Interstate 41. Trp. Sotka directed Jon to exit the vehicle and he complied.
However, before exiting the vehicle, Jon immediately grabbed for the bottle of vodka and took a drink from the bottle,” the complaint states.
A preliminary breath test showed a BAC of .267, more than three times the normal legal limit. However, due to his previous convictions, Miner’s allowed BAC was .02.
Three traffic citations were also issued against Miner: inhaling nitrous oxide, operating a vehicle without insurance, and speeding (11-15mph above the limit).
State records show his last OWI conviction was for a November 2019 traffic stop in Jackson County. He was released in January after serving a five-year prison sentence.
According to court records, Miner’s driver’s license was revoked for two years, as well.
He has 11 prior convictions for operating while intoxicated offenses, for incidents on March 1, 1997; Feb. 7, 1998; Aug. 27, 1999; Sept. 25, 1999; Oct. 1, 1999; Feb. 5, 2001; Aug. 1, 2002; Nov. 27, 2004; Aug. 5, 2011; May 5, 2013; and Nov. 5, 2019.
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