Man arrested in Port pleads guilty to 7th DWI offense

A 57-year-old man who was pulled over in Port Washington in 2022 pleaded guilty in Ozaukee County Circuit Court Monday to seventh-offense drunken driving despite the fact he continues to challenge the case against him.

The plea of Pewaukee resident Richard M. Adkins was accepted by Judge Steve Cain, who revoked his bail and ordered him held in the county jail until his sentencing on Sept. 18.

Ozaukee County Assistant District Attorney Kerra Stumbris is recommending Adkins be sentenced to four years in prison and four years of extended supervision and be fined $3,200.

Adkins has unsuccessfully challenged several aspects of the case against him, including the basis for the traffic stop, and has filed a motion asking Cain to stay his sentence while he appeals his case. Cain is scheduled to rule on that motion at the sentencing.

Adkins, who was driving on South Spring Street, was arrested shortly before midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, after Port Washington police officer Noah Narlock noticed that the rear license plate of Adkins’ car was not properly illuminated, according to a criminal complaint.

Before pulling Adkins over, Narlock saw Adkins drift from the left lane into the right one, then back again, the complaint states.

Narlock stopped Adkins, and while speaking with him the officer noticed the smell of alcohol and that his eyes were glassy and he was slurring his words.

Adkins said he drank two beers about three hours earlier. Two beer bottles, one empty and the other partially full, were found in his vehicle.

During field sobriety tests, Narlock noted, Adkins was swaying and had trouble maintaining his balance.

A breath test revealed that Adkins had a alcohol level of .18, according to the complaint. The legal alcohol level is .08, but for Adkins it was .02 because of previous drunken driving convictions.

According to court records, Adkins was convicted of operating while intoxicated six times between 1989 and 1996 in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.

Seventh-offense drunken driving is punishable by at least three years and as many as 7-1/2 years in prison and five years of extended supervision.