Jon Miner (Photo courtesy: Wisconsin Department of Corrections)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A man who took one last swig of vodka in front of an officer before being arrested for his 12th drunk driving offense was sentenced last Thursday to eight years in prison.
Jon Miner, 59, previously pleaded no contest for the April 28 incident in Kaukauna.
He was also placed on extended supervision for five years by Judge Emily Lonergan.
Before the sentence was issued, Miner apologized to his family, and to society.
“I’ve come to the understanding I can’t do this alone. That I need to have the strength and ability to trust other people to help me. I’m going to prison, there’s no question about that. I can sit around and do nothing in prison, or I can start working on myself, as I already have. Because, eventually, one day, I will be back out in society. Rather than be a burden like I am now, I’d rather be a productive part of society,” Miner said.
According to the complaint, an officer pulled Miner over for going 85 mph in a 70 mph zone on Interstate 41. When the officer approached the vehicle, he saw an open bottle of vodka and there was “an overpowering odor of intoxicating beverages emitting from inside of the vehicle, even with both the driver and passenger windows down.”
Miner said he was coming from Tomah. The officer asked for more specifics.
“It doesn’t matter, I am drunk.” When asked how drunk he was, Jon said “Pretty drunk.” Trp. Sotka pointed to the bottle of vodka and Jon admitted to drinking from the bottle of vodka while he was driving and that he was consuming the vodka as he passed Trp. Sotka on Interstate 41. Trp. Sotka directed Jon to exit the vehicle and he complied. However, before exiting the vehicle, Jon immediately grabbed for the bottle of vodka and took a drink from the bottle,” the complaint states.
A preliminary breath test showed a BAC of .267, more than three times the normal legal limit. However, due to his previous convictions, Miner’s allowable BAC was .02.
Three traffic citations were also issued against Miner: inhaling nitrous oxide, operating a vehicle without insurance, and speeding (11-15 mph above the limit).
State records show his last OWI conviction was for a November 2019 traffic stop in Jackson County. He was released in January after serving a five-year prison sentence. According to court records, Miner’s driver’s license was revoked for two years, as well.
He has 11 prior convictions for operating while intoxicated offenses, for incidents on March 1, 1997; Feb. 7, 1998; Aug. 27, 1999; Sept. 25, 1999; Oct. 1, 1999; Feb. 5, 2001; Aug. 1, 2002; Nov. 27, 2004; Aug. 5, 2011; May 5, 2013; and Nov. 5, 2019.
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