(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 25-year-old Racine man was given a $500 cash bond Friday after Kenosha County authorities say he was caught driving drunk with a loaded revolver under his seat — a weapon he allegedly possessed illegally as a convicted felon.
Dylan Christian Rojas appeared in court before Court Commissioner Donald Bielski, who set the bail amount and scheduled a pre-trial conference for May 30. Prosecutors charged Rojas with three misdemeanors, including operating while intoxicated (second offense), operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, and possession of a firearm while intoxicated.
However police asked the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office to file a felony charge of possession of a firearm by a felon — a charge that has not yet been filed. In court today, Deputy District Attorney Drew Burgoyne noted that the felony charge is still being reviewed. According to law enforcement, Rojas has a prior felony conviction that was expunged. But under Wisconsin law, expungement does not restore firearm rights. Only a gubernatorial pardon would do that.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies say they pulled Rojas over around 2:50 a.m. on May 8 after observing suspicious driving behavior in the Village of Somers, including stopping unnecessarily at flashing yellow lights and speeding near Carthage College. Rojas allegedly admitted to drinking and appeared impaired during field sobriety tests, according to the criminal complaint.
After he was taken into custody, deputies searched his vehicle and discovered a loaded Ruger LCR revolver beneath the driver’s seat along with additional .38 special ammunition inside a chest-worn sling bag. A single spent shell casing was also found inside the vehicle, raising questions due to the revolver’s manual ejection system. Deputies also discovered a bag of crystalline substance in the vehicle; preliminary tests were inconclusive.
Rojas’ breath test later indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.13, well above the legal limit.
If convicted on the current charges, Rojas faces up to 15 months in jail and $22,200 in fines. A felony charge of possession of a firearm by a felon, if filed, would carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
The investigation is ongoing and further charges may be added before his next court date.
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10 Responses
$500 bond????
Bond is just meant to make sure he returns to court. You get it back when the case is over, even if you’re convicted. Why would it be higher?
You don’t get much, if any at all back, if you are convicted. The bond money goes towards any fines or court costs that are imposed.
Test
Look into his eyes, trying to be cool and now he’s scared to death. Kids nowadays are fucking stupid.
That’s because society is sooooo concerned about “feelings”, instead of giving kids a swift kick in the ass when they’re being raised. Not saying beat them, or choke them, just use common sense.
Is there any good people in Racine or is it just a blend of CHI and MKE
Youre an ass!
A governor’s pardon with a restoration of firearms rights provision restores firearms possession rights for a convicted felon. An expunged record does not restore firearms rights. The problem (and this is why they may have delayed charging) is that expunction literally means striking the record of the conviction and in order to prove the charge guess what certified copy of a document the prosecution needs?
$500 is a low bond for this.