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Kingsford man gets year in jail after third OWI

LONY REIMER

IRON MOUNTAIN — A Kingsford man convicted of driving under the influence will spend a year in jail.

Lony Reimer, 43, was sentenced Monday in Dickinson County Circuit Court for operating while intoxicated, third offense, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Reimer was convicted as a two-time habitual offender and could have been sentenced to as many as 1 1/2 times the maximum penalty.

Defense attorney Greg Seibold acknowledged Reimer’s lengthy criminal history but noted most the offenses dated back to the 1990s.

“Mr. Reimer had been doing fairly well controlling his addiction to alcohol in recent years until stumbling last year,” Seibold said. “However, Mr. Reimer has been a productive member of society, holding down full-time employment and maintaining valuable personal relationships.”

Seibold agreed with a suggestion made in the pre-sentence investigation report that a one-year jail sentence with three years of probation may be a better alternative to prison.

“I would just ask the court to recognize the progress that (Reimer) has made the last few years and his desire to overcome his addiction,” Seibold said.

Dickinson County Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Richards said Reimer deserved to be punished for putting the community at risk but acknowledged he had accepted responsibility and appeared remorseful.

Richards said the recommendation in the report would accomplish the goals of sentencing.

Addressing the court, Reimer apologized for his actions. “I knew I was drunk that day,” Reimer said, “That’s why I deserve the punishment I’m about to get.”

“Mr. Reimer, against my better judgment, I’m going to give you one last opportunity,” Dickinson County Circuit Judge Christopher Ninomiya said, later adding, “You should probably be going to prison today.”

Ninomiya warned he would have no reservations about handing down a prison sentence if Reimer reoffended.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve had a sip of alcohol and test a .02 percent, you’re going to prison. There’s no more room for error, there’s no more room for mistakes — you have to be perfect going forward,” Ninomiya said.

According to the criminal complaint, police stopped Reimer’s truck June 25 after being alerted about a possible intoxicated driver. Reimer reportedly smelled of intoxicants, had bloodshot eyes and performed poorly on field sobriety tests, as well as registering a .13 percent blood-alcohol content on a preliminary breath test.

Reimer initially pleaded not guilty to all charges July 22 but was rearraigned Sept. 9 as part of a plea agreement.

In exchange for Reimer’s guilty plea, Richards agreed to reduce the habitual offender-fourth offense notice, which would have increased the maximum sentence to life in prison.

Richards also agreed to dismiss a count of operating a motor vehicle without security, a one-year misdemeanor.

Brian Christensen can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or bchristensen@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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