Siren Man Charged With Felony OWI 6th Offense

Siren man, John Paulson, has been charged in Burnett County Circuit Court with Felony Operating While Intoxicated, 6th Offense. If convicted of this charge, Paulson could face a maximum of 6 years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

According to the criminal complaint, obtained and reviewed by DrydenWire.com, on May 10, 2016, law enforcement officers saw a vehicle driving through Grantsburg, WI, without any functioning rear taillights. An officer of the Grantsburg Police Department followed the vehicle and performed a traffic stop assisted by a deputy from the Burnett County Sheriff's Department.

The driver of the vehicle was identified by the officers on scene as John Paulson of Siren, WI.

Paulson told officers on scene that he was unaware that the rear taillights on his vehicle were not working, but that he thought the reason for the traffic stop was because he failed to stop at a stop sign, according to the criminal complaint.

Officers saw an open can of alcoholic beverage in the center console of the vehicle and asked Paulson if he had been drinking that evening or if there were any open alcohol containers in the vehicle; Paulson answered no and slammed the console cover shut, covering the open container. The complaint continues stating that officers could also see an empty alcohol container on the floor in the rear of the vehicle as well.

Paulson was asked to get out of the vehicle, and at that point, Paulson told the officers that he had been drinking earlier that day. Paulson also told officers that his driver's license was suspended because he had not been paying his child support.

Field sobriety tests were conducted by the officers with Paulson and the criminal complaint further states that during the field testing Burnett County Dispatch informed the officers that Paulson had 5 prior convictions for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI). A preliminary breath test on Paulson gave a result of .04; however, with 5 prior OWI convictions, Paulson's legal limit is .02.

The officers explained to Paulson that he was being placed under arrest for OWI. After Paulson was in custody, officers located another un-opened alcohol container, a small bottle of cucumber-flavored vodka, in the center console.

Paulson was transported to the Burnett Medical Center where he consented to an evidentiary blood draw. The criminal complaint states that the results of that blood test showed that Paulson's blood alcohol level was 0.038.

A charge of Felony Bail Jumping was also filed against Paulson because he was under the conditions of a Felony Bail Bond at the time of the incident; one of the conditions of that Bail Bond being that Paulson does not commit any crimes. If convicted of the charge of Felony Bail Jump, Paulson could face a maximum of an additional 6 years in prison or a fine of $10,000, or both.

Public record shows that Paulson has another open Burnett County Criminal case, filed in April 2016, with a charge of Felony Bail Jump.

A plea hearing is scheduled for Paulson in Burnett County Circuit Court on April 5, 2017.

DrydenWire.com reminds our readers that individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until convicted by a judge or jury.