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Driver who drove wrong way on US 31 pleads guilty.
#MasonCountyCrime
By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.
Hansen
LUDINGTON — A 59-year-old Ludington man pleaded guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, June 9, to third-offense operating while intoxicated after driving the wrong way on US 31 last December.
Timothy Hansen was arrested by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office the evening of Dec. 2, 2019 after driving northbound in the southbound lane and fleeing from police.
Hansen appeared in court via Zoom videoconferencing with his attorney John Beason due to COVID-19. He faces serving five months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term, along with probation, community service and vehicle immobilization, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola.
One count of fleeing and eluding police was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to third-offense OWI. Fleeing and eluding is punishable by up to two years in prison, and third-offense OWI is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Hansen was arrested following several 911 calls reporting a vehicle driving the wrong way, said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole previously. “A deputy spotted the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop but the vehicle reportedly refused to stop. The deputy chased the suspect northbound into Amber Township — about two miles — before the vehicle lost control and ran into the median.”
Hansen testified Tuesday that his blood alcohol content was .217.
Sentencing is set for Aug. 11 at 1 p.m.
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