Jury: Guilty of driving drunk

A Douglas County jury spent less than an hour in deliberation before finding a Solon Springs man guilty of his seventh drunk driving offense Tuesday.

Carl Matthew Andrews, 42, was found guilty of seventh offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle after revocation and seventh offense operating a motor vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May.

The jury found Andrews not guilty of one count of threats to injure or accuse of a crime.

According to the criminal complaint:

Deputy Jake Engelman of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department responded to the Village Pump Bar around 2:42 p.m. on a report of an unwanted guest. He found Andrews slumped against the door of the bar. The Solon Springs man appeared very intoxicated, and he was told to walk home. A black truck registered to Andrews’ wife was parked behind the bar.

About two hours later, Engelman returned to the Solon Springs area and saw the truck in the back lot with the engine running and lights on. Andrews was passed out behind the wheel in the driver’s seat with his left arm on the window sill of the driver’s door. His right hand was gripped around the bottom of the steering wheel and his right foot was resting against the gas pedal.

Engleman woke Andrews and had the Solon Springs man turn the vehicle off.

Andrews told the deputy that he had just driven to the bar and parked, but was unclear as to the timeframe. His answers ranged from five minutes to two hours ago. A PBT showed a .177 alcohol level, and Andrews was arrested.

He became agitated and combative, calling Engelman names and threatening to kill him. The Solon Springs man also kicked the windows and interior of the squad so hard that some plastic pieces broke off. A blood draw showed Andrews’ blood alcohol level to be .205.

Andrews has six prior citations for operating while intoxicated.

A seventh offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and up to a $25,000 fine.

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