John W. Nero, 26, Waupaca, faces six years in prison after being charged Jan. 19 with a fifth drunken driving offense and operating after revocation of his license.
Shortly before 1 a.m. Dec. 23, Waupaca Police Officer Mario Graceffa was dispatched to Elm Street where he found a pickup truck lodged in the snowbank. The driver was spinning the truck’s tires as he attempted to remove it from the snow.
Graceffa ordered the driver to put the truck in park and exit the vehicle. He reported seeing beer cans in the cab and smelling alcohol on the driver’s breath.
According to the criminal complaint, the driver refused to answer any questions about who he was. Graceffa called dispatch and confirmed Nero’s identity through his tattoos.
Graceffa cited Nero for operating while intoxicated and took him to Riverside Medical Center for a blood draw. Nero reportedly became combative and had to be held down for the procedure.
On Jan. 18, Judge John Hoffmann found Nero’s refusal unreasonable and revoked his license for three more years.
Nero’s license was revoked for three years in January 2009 after he was convicted of a fourth offense of operating while intoxicated.
Nero had a 0.154 blood-alcohol level, according to the criminal complaint.