By Jacob Mathias

A Stevens Point man faces felony charges after being arrested for his eighth offense of operating while intoxicated.

Terrill Hintz, 40, is charged with a felony eighth offense of OWI and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, each of which carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment, or a $25,000 fine or both if convicted.

Hintz made is initial appearance in Portage Co. Circuit Court by video on Dec. 21. At the time of his appearance he had yet to contact counsel and his appearance was adjourned for a week while he sought a public defender.

According to court documents, on Dec. 9 at about 2:10 PM, a Stevens Point police officer made a traffic stop of a vehicle speeding near the intersection of Stanley Street and Michigan Avenue. The driver identified himself as Terrill Hintz.

When police ran Hintz’s license, they learned his driving privileges had been revoked due to a previous OWI conviction. The officer ask Hintz if he’d been drinking and he said no.

The officer asked Hintz to step out of his vehicle and he stumbled while doing so. His eyes were reported to be bloodshot and glassy. An odor of intoxicants were reported on Hintz’s breath and he spoke with slurred speech.

A preliminary breath test was performed on Hintz and tested at .156, nearly twice the legal limit and well over his imposed .02 level due to his prior OWI convictions.

Hintz was asked to perform field sobriety tests which officers said confirmed their suspicion that he was impaired. Hintz was placed under arrest and taken to St. Michael’s Hospital for a blood draw. Hintz refused the blood draw so a warrant was issued.

Blood was drawn but the results are not available at this time.

A $5,000 cash bond has been set for Hintz.

He returns to court on December 28 at 1:30 PM for his initial appearance.