GREEN BAY (WTAQ-WLUK) — People are still trying to wrap their heads around how a man with 17 prior OWI convictions managed to rack up an 18th on Friday–all while holding a valid drivers license.
Seventy-three-year-old Wallace Bowers has 17 prior OWI convictions between 1988 and 2011.
“It started out with a simple call of power lines that were down, as we responded we got some more information it might be a transformer,” Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith explained.
Soon after, law enforcement discovered the alleged drunk driver, who had taken out power lines, causing a widespread power outage.
“My big question is why is he even allowed out, why is this guy allowed to be out there endangering our community?” Smith said.
“Unfortunately, when we consume alcohol our ability to make good decisions disappears,” attorney Shane Brabazon added.
Wisconsin law now requires driver’s licenses to be revoked with a 4th OWI conviction, if the previous conviction was within 15 years. But in this case, Bowers last conviction was in 2011, before the new law went into effect in 2018; so he had a valid drivers license when he got behind the wheel.
“I’ve been sober since the 2011 [incident], that last DWI, and I blame the medications I have to be on [they] can interfere with the few drinks I did have,” Bowers told Court Commissioner Cynthia Vopal during an initial court appearance.
“Drunk driving is a clear and present danger to the community,” Vopal said.
“In 32 years of policing I have never seen someone with that many priors,” Smith said.
“A person having 10 prior OWIs is very uncommon in Wisconsin,” Brabazon said. “I see it very infrequently.”
Brabazon Law Office defends clients who’ve been charged with operating while intoxicated.
“I think Wisconsin is definitely, among Midwest states, among the leaders of OWI cases,” Brabazon said. “Less than 5% are reduced to infractions or dismissed.”
For this felony charge, if convicted Bowers faces a fine up to $50,000, a 15 year prison sentence and a lifetime driver’s license revocation.
With a conviction, if Bowers’ driver’s license is revoked, after 10 years he could be eligible for a occupational driver’s license.
His bond is set at $30,000.
