Gordon woman faces jail for 5th drunk driving offense

A Gordon woman will spend one year in jail and five years on probation for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated for the fifth time.

Kathern Marie Baum, 49, pleaded no contest March 7 in Douglas County Circuit Court to a fifth offense of operating while intoxicated with a minor child in vehicle. She was sentenced to five years of probation with one year in jail. Huber work release was granted.

Baum was ordered to pay a $1,200 fine, maintain absolute sobriety, undergo a chemical dependency evaluation and provide a DNA sample. Her driver’s license was revoked for 36 months.

Hanging over Baum’s head if she fails to meet the terms of her probation is a 10-year sentence — five years confinement and five years of extended supervision.

Baum also pleaded no contest to one count of possession of a controlled substance. She was ordered to serve an additional 30 days in jail on that charge.

Charges of operating while revoked, fifth offense operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration with a minor child in vehicle and fifth offense operating with restricted controlled substances in the blood with a minor child in vehicle were dismissed.

According to the criminal complaint, Douglas County Sheriff Deputy Cory Knutson saw Baum drive past him the afternoon of Aug. 10 while he was parked behind an Allouez business. He learned from the communications center that she had an active warrant, followed her and put on his lights.

Baum who was parked near a playground, exited the vehicle along with her 4-year-old grandson. While talking to Baum, Knutson could smell the odor on an intoxicating beverage. Baum said she had consumed half of a canned alcoholic drink. Because of her four prior drunk driving offenses, she was prohibited from driving with a blood alcohol content over 0.02; it was 0.029.

Lortabs were found in her pocket when Knutson searched Baum.

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