Aaron Richards

IRON MOUNTAIN — A Norway man accused of driving drunk in November pleaded not guilty Monday in Dickinson County Circuit Court.

Aaron Richards, 42, is charged with operating while intoxicated, third offense, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison; and operating while license suspended, revoked or denied, a 93-day misdemeanor.

Richards waived arraignment and was not required to appear in court in person. The pleas were entered on his behalf by Dickinson County Circuit Judge Christopher Ninomiya.

According to the criminal complaint, Dickinson County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a report Nov. 6 of an unconscious man in a parked car on a Norway road found Richards, who smelled of intoxicants and admitted to drinking beer. He performed poorly on field sobriety tests and registered a .15% blood alcohol-content on a preliminary breath test, the complaint stated.

A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Jan. 6. Bond is set at $5,000 cash, surety or 10 percent.

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