Speeding Muskego Man Charged With 2nd OWI in Two Months

A 26-year-old Muskego man is facing drunk driving charges after he was caught allegedly speeding through Hales Corners with fresh damage to his car.

Christopher A. Hartson was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Tuesday with one count of second offense operating while intoxicated. If convicted, he faces up to six months in jail and $1,100 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Aug. 4, a Hales Corners police officer spotted Hartson doing 66 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour speed zone in the 10000 block of West Forest Home Avenue. Hartson’s car’s registration had also expired in July, so the officer pulled him over.

The officer immediately noticed the smell of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle and Hartson said he had been drinking. The officer noticed fresh damage on the car as well and Hartson told the officer he had hit a tree in the parking lot of the Triangle Sportsman Club in East Troy.

Hartson then failed field sobriety tests and was taken for a blood test, which revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.166, which is more than twice the legal limit to drive in Wisconsin.

Hartson was convicted of his first OWI in July. He will make his initial appearance in court Friday.