FOND DU LAC -- 52-year-old Steven Johnson is now facing a decade in prison after getting for an OWI on New Year’s night. Appleton police say this was his 11th time.
Outagamie District Attorney Carrie Schneider says he's facing a longer period of time because of a new tougher Wisconsin drunk driving law that kicked in on January 1st.
"So to get to a 10th or a 11th is pretty rare, it's up to 10 years, so really on an offense like this with the minimum, he's going to have to serve between 4 and 10 years in terms of confinement time," said Schneider.
According to the criminal complaint, Johnson was watching the Packers game at a bar. He admitted to drinking three draft Bud Lights. Appleton Police Sgt. David Lund says after leaving the bar, Johnson was a passenger in a hit-and-run accident with a parked car.
"Kind of an odd set of circumstances," said Sgt. Lund.
But after the woman who was driving the car got out, police say he jumped behind the wheel and tried to drive away.
"Just not really thinking things through before he got behind the wheel and drove past our officers," said Sgt. Lund.
And after being caught for an 11th time, the million dollar question is how did Johnson have a valid driver’s license after 10 previous OWI convictions and serving prison time?
"For him, and for people even today, it's a three year maximum period of revocation, So after three years if he's completed his alcohol and drug assignments and assessments and completed his counseling, if he's complied with whatever rules the DOT has in terms of filing notice of proof of insurance, if he's not under extended supervision or other probation conditions then he would be able to obtain a valid license," said Schneider.
Johnson's appears in court for a preliminary hearing next Wednesday. His bond is set at $15,000.
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