By Brandi Makuski

A Stevens Point man accused of his fifth OWI charge could face more than 10 years in jail.

David Sanchez, 38, has been charged with his fourth OWI charge in five years. He also faces four counts of bail-jumping, operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration and operating a motor vehicle while revoked.

Sanchez was arrested following an early morning traffic stop on Aug. 17. According to the criminal complaint, Sanchez was driving over the fog line, where he remained until pulling into an apartment complex on Porter Road. When a Plover police officer approached the car, he could smell the odor of alcohol.

Sanchez admitted to the officer he did not have a valid driver’s license, instead producing a state ID card. When officers asked Sanchez to exit the vehicle, he stumbled as he walked to the back of the vehicle, telling officers he’d gotten off work and had “only one beer” at Club Forest on his way home.

According to the complaint, Sanchez was unable to successfully complete a field sobriety test and blew a .170 in the officer’s breathalyzer. Under state law, anyone with a prohibited alcohol concentration restriction due to a previous OWI charge, like Sanchez, who is found to have a blood alcohol concentration of .17 to .199, is subject to having any fines levied against him doubled.

When officers attempted to take Sanchez into custody, Sanchez claimed he had been questioned without being read his rights. When the officer explained Sanchez had only been taken arrested following his field sobriety test, and then he was read his rights.

Sanchez called the police officer a liar, then refused to consent to a blood draw at Ministry St. Michael’s, forcing officers to obtain a warrant.

According to court records, Sanchez has one pending OWI charge against him, stemming from an incident in December 2015. He was previously convicted of OWI in 2008 and 2010, and was also previously convicted of driving after his license was revoking in 2011 and 2014.

He is free on $1,000 cash bond and required to check in at the day report center five days each week.