Elkhorn man in court for 7th OWI
Photo 
David Betts
ELKHORN — An Elkhorn man who served jail time for crashing an airplane into a Milwaukee neighborhood while flying drunk in 2005 was bound over for trial Wednesday on a new charge of operating while intoxicated.
David J. Betts, 41, of 103 E. Rockwell St., Elkhorn, appeared in Walworth County Court on a charge of seventh-offense drunken driving and two counts of felony bail jumping. All three charges stem from an April 29 incident.
Betts made headlines in 2005 after flying drunk and crashing into power lines in the Riverwest neighborhood in Milwaukee. One neighbor said the plane landed 10 feet from his daughter's bedroom, but no one was hurt.
The new charges were filed after Betts attempted to visit an inmate at the Walworth County Jail on April 29 while drunk, according to the criminal complaint.
Sgt. Robert Hall noticed Betts had a strong odor of intoxicants on his breath, slowed and slurred speech and poor balance and motor skills. A preliminary breath test revealed Betts had a blood alcohol content of 0.393, which is nearly five times the legal limit to drive, according to the complaint.
Betts was arrested on seventh-offense drunken driving after admitting he drove to the jail, according to the criminal complaint.
Being drunk April 29 violated bond conditions imposed on two earlier alcohol-related cases—an April 2008 fifth-offense drunken driving charge and an August 2008 bail-jumping charge filed because Betts was drunk when he appeared in court on the April drunken-driving case, according to court documents. In both cases, bond conditions where imposed prohibiting Betts from drinking alcohol.
Steven Madson, Walworth County assistant district attorney, said the seventh-offense drunken driving charge could be amended to an eighth offense if the prosecution is able to retrieve documents from a 1991 case.
"Part of the problem is that they are from other jurisdictions," Madson said.
He said the case is about protecting the public.
"Protecting the public is a valid concern, punishment is a valid concern and rehabilitation of the defendant, which is a primary need when you're talking this type of offense," Madson said.
Betts is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday, June 23. He remains locked in the Walworth County Jail on a cash bond.
Jun 13, 2009 at 12:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
brwe, sadly it may takes something like that to happen before WI really does something about DWI.
Jun 12, 2009 at 7:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Treating the problem only works if the person is willing to take the treatment and follow the treatment rules. Obviously this guy doesn't want treatment or he would have already gotten help. Even if he did take treatment it would be done just to avoid jail. Maybe putting him in jail for a few years, where he can't drink would help. If not at least he may try and stay out of trouble.
Jun 12, 2009 at 3:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
Maybe his lawyer can convince the judge to drop the charges because the violation occurred during hunting season.
(for context see snowmobile story)
Jun 12, 2009 at 3:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
Welcome to Wisconsin. Friends in other states are amazed that we don't seem to jail people for OWI unless people are killed.
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Except that he will be released at some point. Why not treat the real problem and save everyone a ton of money.
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
Incarceration may or may not be effective in changing a person's drinking behavior but it is effective in protecting the rest of us from them. Incarceration has multi purposes and protecting the rest of us is one of them.
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
The general public will never understand that his thinking is quite dis-similiar from others. Incarcerating alcoholics is as effective as spanking a child.
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
I have a relative who got arrested(over twice the limit)MONTHS ago and is still not in jail and STILL drives their kids around!!!!!!
.
This is a SURREAL spectacle to experience!!!!!
Jun 12, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
Showing up to court and the jail drunk... and flying a plane drunk?! This guy doesn't have a learning curve, he's obviously has a big problem with alcohol. They should lock him up for a few years and put him through rehab before he ends up killing someone. Why don't they throw the book at people after the 2nd or 3rd offense. I just don't get it.
Jun 12, 2009 at 10:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
Sheesh! I can't find the right words. Duh - doesn't even come close.
Jun 12, 2009 at 9:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
What kind of brianiac with a history of six previous drunk driving convictions drives to visit an inmate intoxicated. I'd have to suspect this guy has already killed a few too many brain cells.
Jun 12, 2009 at 9:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
im w ljs. we all deserve 7 or 8 one more chances;)
Jun 12, 2009 at 9:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
I bet he will now realize the error in his ways. Go easy Walworth Co. he deserves one more chance.
Jun 11, 2009 at 11:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
The best you can hope for is that his 1st fatality is a state legislator (block me if you must--truth is truth, regardless)! That's when the clowns we send to Madison will decide something needs to be done!
Jun 11, 2009 at 11:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Amazing he hasn't killed anyone yet. To bad the law wasn't written to lock them up for life after two or three OWI's. Probably the only thing that will stop someone like this is a sentence of life in prision or the death penalty. Since the taxpayer shouldn't have to house him for life the punishment should be a death sentence. But we live in a bleeding heart society that will allow him to continue OWI'ing until he kills someone, then let him out after about 7 years to kill some more innocent people.
Jun 11, 2009 at 5:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
This guy will never learn. It's too bad because one time he will hurt someone.
Jun 11, 2009 at 5:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
to bad they did`nt film this guy when he went to the jail to visit,he could of been on tru-tv,americas dumbest criminals
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.