By Brandi Makuski

A Stevens Point man on Friday was convicted of his ninth OWI offense and battery to law enforcement.

Brian K. Matke, 51, was found guilty after he pleaded no contest before Judge Robert Shannon. Matke appeared with his attorney Ryan Drengler.

The charge of battery to law enforcement came in May of 2015, when a caller from a Fourth Ave. home reported Matke was attempting to ride his motorcycle while intoxicated, resulting in the motorcycle — and Matke — falling over several times.

According to court records, Matke was on probation at the time and had an active warrant. When police attempted to take him into custody, Matke kicked one officer in the groin and actively resisted other officers, biting his own tongue in the process. He then spat blood at officers, at which point they placed a spit hood over Matke’s head.

Matke was arrested again in December, 2015 following single-vehicle accident on County Hwy. HH in the Town of Carson. A caller there said they’d observed a motorist, later identified as Matke, strike a mailbox with his Chevrolet Impala, cross the center line into the oncoming traffic, then land in a ditch.

When deputies arrived at the scene, Matke “stared off into space” as they attempted to make contact with him in the driver’s seat. According to the complaint, he was holding a lighter in one hand and a black metal marijuana pipe in the other.

Matke told deputies he’d been smoking synthetic marijuana from the pipe, according to the complaint, adding he didn’t remember hitting the mailbox.

Matke has eight prior OWI convictions dating back to 1990.

Two charges of bail-jumping and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed as part of his plea but will be read in for sentencing. Matke returns to court for sentencing on June 19.