By Hub City Times staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — A 46-year-old Vesper man was charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI), eighth offense.

Court records indicate that on July 20 officers observed a motorcycle traveling in the village of Arpin with no visible tail lights. After stopping the vehicle, the officer stated that the driver, identified as Thomas S. Pala, smelled of intoxicants.

After failing standard field sobriety tests, Pala was administered a preliminary breath test, which registered 0.173.

Pala admitted to consuming four Steel Reserve beers prior to operating the motorcycle. He was then charged with his eighth OWI, a class F felony that comes with $25,000 in fines and/or 12 years and six months imprisonment.

Pala’s operating privileges will be revoked for two to three years, and he must submit to alcohol and drug abuse assessments and comply with treatment for reinstatement.

Due to his seven prior OWI convictions, Pala may face additional sentencing.