Crime & Safety

Sussex Man Charged with 4th OWI

Thomas J. Haessly told police he had one beer at a bar in Oconomowoc before driving, but he had a .15 percent blood alcohol concentration, according to the complaint.

A 39-year-old Sussex man is facing a his fourth drunken driving charge — a felony — after leaving a bar in Oconomowoc.

Thomas J. Haessly was charged Monday in Waukesha County Circuit Court with operating while intoxicated-fourth offense. If he is convicted, he faces up to three years in prison, $10,000 in fines and two to three years of a driver’s license revocation.

According to a criminal complaint:

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A Town of Oconomowoc police officer spotted a vehicle being driven by Haessly with a defective license plate lamp Saturday. As the officer watched the vehicle, he noticed the vehicle crossed the fog line three times at Highway 16 and Brown Street.

The officer attempted to pull over Haessly, who did not immediately stop. The officer used his spotlight in an attempt to get his attention, and eventually Haessly stopped.

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The officer reported Haessly showed signs of intoxication. Haessly told the police officer he was coming from a bar in Oconomowoc where he had a beer.

Haessly failed his field sobriety tests and had a .15 percent blood alcohol concentration.

Haessly previously was convicted of drunken driving in 1992 and twice in 2009.


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