(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — A Racine man with a lengthy record of impaired driving is now facing his ninth offense after police allegedly found him under the influence of cocaine and in possession of multiple illegal substances during a traffic stop earlier this week. Daniel L. Vasko, 55, appeared in Kenosha County court on Friday, where Court Commissioner Donald Bielski set his bail at $25,000 cash.
Vasko is charged with felony operating while under the influence—his seventh, eighth or ninth such offense—along with misdemeanor counts of cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted, he faces over 13 years of imprisonment and more than $30,000 in potential fines.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
According to the criminal complaint, a Pleasant Prairie police officer stopped Vasko around 2:25 a.m. on May 7 in the 6500 block of 54th Avenue in the City of Kenosha. The vehicle had no front license plate, prompting the stop. The officer identified Vasko as the driver and confirmed an active warrant for his arrest through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
During the interaction, officers noted signs of impairment and obtained Vasko’s consent to search his person. Police say they found a sandwich baggie containing a white powdery substance in his pants pocket, which Vasko reportedly admitted was “probably coke.” He also told the officer he had used cocaine that afternoon—just hours before getting behind the wheel.
Field sobriety tests were administered, and Vasko allegedly showed signs of impairment, including body tremors and poor balance. Officers also described Vasko’s internal clock as delayed, noting his miscalculations during time-estimation portions of the sobriety exam. Due to previous injuries, Vasko said he could not perform the one-leg stand or walk-and-turn tests.
Based on the field sobriety results, his admission to recent drug use, and the physical evidence, Vasko was arrested at the scene. A search of his vehicle turned up additional suspected cocaine inside a glass jar, a crack pipe with residue, a digital scale with a razor blade and powdery substance, and an opened super glue container. Officers noted that super glue containers are sometimes used to inhale fumes for a high, based on their training and experience.
Further testing confirmed the presence of cocaine. Police say the glass pipe and other paraphernalia were consistent with tools used to ingest controlled substances.
The defendant’s criminal history includes eight prior OWI convictions stretching back more than three decades. According to records listed in the complaint, Vasko was convicted in:
- 1989 (Ozaukee County)
- 1992 (Racine County)
- 1994 (Milwaukee County)
- 1996 (Racine County)
- 2001 (Racine County)
- 2006 (Kenosha County)
- 2011 (Kenosha County)
- 2017 (Kenosha County)
.
Under Wisconsin law, a ninth OWI offense is a Class F felony. If convicted, Vasko would face a mandatory minimum of three years in prison. The maximum penalty includes up to 12 years and six months behind bars and a $25,000 fine. His misdemeanor drug charges carry additional penalties of up to one year in jail for cocaine possession and 30 days for possession of paraphernalia, along with further monetary fines and potential driver’s license suspensions.
At Friday’s hearing, Commissioner Bielski noted the severity of the allegations and Vasko’s extensive history before setting bail at $25,000 cash. The defendant remains in custody at the Kenosha County Jail.
Vasko is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on May 15.
28 Responses
Lifetime loser.
Kenosha County Court Commissioners won’t be happy till he kills someone he needs to be in jail already,
He had a warrant through probation and parole – he’s not going anywhere. Why do you comment on things that you know nothing about?
Obviously you don’t know how Tony Evers department of corrections works.
So why don’t you enlighten us on tony ever’s department of corrections?
Because they can. Why do you always act like you know it all?
Is this Mike Gravely ?
He’s leading the pack ahead of Monty and Eric.
How can he still have a license? Why isn’t he in prison?
Very good question. Other states bar driver’s licensing for life on a lesser number of OWIs. WI is one of the most statutorily lenient of the 50 states on OWIs. The guy certainly picked the right state to drive drunk. With 9 OWIs, this guy clearly is incorrigible and beyond conventional help (but not spiritual, if he could open up to it), which he has likely received repeatedly to date. Finally, if not a rich trust fund waste case, he’s very likely a public dole leech, aside the 3 hots and a cot plus medical coverage he gets during his revolving jail vacations on the taxpayer’s dime. Truly, either a prime cut government dependent or deep pocketed trust fund trash – the ultimate Democrat constituent.
He’s a KUSD guidence counselor.
Doesn’t mean he won’t drive… So many people in kenosha don’t have licenses and drive come on
Why do people grow shitty ass beards?
🤣🤣🤣
Doesn’t look like a guy too concerned about his appearance
What a loser.
This is what happens when government enables people to continue to break the law. No person with 7,8,9 owi’s should be on the streets. Bleeding heart weaklings in justice department enable criminal behavior.
9th ! OWI – JUDGES ? JUST WAITING TILL SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN THE streets or himself !
RIDICULOUS ! JESUS
Welcome to Wisconsin where we let ya do it till ya kill someone….
Nailed it. Precisely the cause. The result of a culture that is pervertedly feminine.
… how do guys like this afford the booze and the drugs at all ???
Car might be paid for but we all know his house isn’t. Or at least still has a monthly rent somewhere.
Add food and such, guys like this can blow or drink a weekly paycheck in one night maybe two.
Then what ??
How do they survive ?
Hopefully family showed him the door long ago
I’ve always wondered that too.
They get our tax money I assume.
Paying taxes is for suckers.
Where did he get the coke ?
He won’t be happy until he has 10
why not 12
How about 20?
Huh?
How do you get 9?