Police say Michael McCarty was reported by witnesses to be swerving between lanes, stopping in traffic and “…appearing to pass out several times” along Lovers Lane at about 10 am May 10. Officer Jeremy Ellis said in court documents that McCarty’s van was located at Lovers Lane and E. Colony Square, where it was parked on the wrong side of the street in the traffic lane.
In the back, Ellis said he found McCarty passed out with the keys in his hands. A half-empty, half-gallon bottle of vodka was also found. McCarty admitted driving, and told the officer “…he just wanted to drive around and get wasted for his birthday,” according to a court statement.
On Friday, McCarty pleaded guilty to a class-e felony count of DWI as a chronic offender. Prosecutors listed three prior DWI convictions in Missouri, and said McCarty was on probation for a fourth DWI in Oklahoma.
Circuit Judge Patrick Robb followed the plea agreement and sentenced McCarty to four years in the Dept. of Corrections.