By Jacob Mathias

Court Reporter

WOOD COUNTY — A Marshfield man is being charged with his eighth offense of operating while under the influence (OWI) after running from an accident late in May.

According to court documents, on May 30 a Marshfield police officer responded to a call reporting a single vehicle hit-and-run crash outside a tavern shortly after 10 p.m. Upon arrival, a male witness to the scene told police that 47-year-old Jessie Foster had left the tavern stumbling and extremely intoxicated and attempted to drive home even though the witness urged him against it.

Officers then contacted Foster at his home, where they found him very intoxicated and glassy eyed with a strong odor of alcohol. Foster told police that he had, had a few drinks that evening but denied being in the earlier accident.

Police attempted to administer sobriety tests, but Foster refused them and was then arrested.

A blood test was performed at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, revealing a blood alcohol level of .283, over three times the legal limit.

On June 2 Foster was released on a $5,000 cash bond requiring that he maintain absolute sobriety and not enter any establishment that sells alcohol.

Foster was found guilty of his seventh OWI in June 2009 and sentenced to one year and six months in jail.

The charge for a seventh, eighth, or ninth OWI is a class G felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a $25,000 fine, or both. Foster’s driver’s license can also be revoked for up to three years.

Foster pleaded not guilty to all charges on July 27 in Branch 3 of the Wood County Circuit Court.

He returns to court for a pre-trial conference on Aug. 21 at 11 a.m.