(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 45-year-old Kenosha man was convicted Tuesday after a one-day jury trial stemming from a July 2023 incident in which police found him passed out drunk behind the wheel of a running vehicle—with a stolen firearm in the center console.
The jury found him guilty of operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration and possession of a firearm while intoxicated, both misdemeanors. His blood alcohol content was measured at 0.256—more than three times the legal limit.
A third charge, operating while intoxicated (third offense), was dismissed after the guilty verdicts.
Jurors began deliberating at 11:49 a.m. and returned a verdict less than an hour later. The trial included opening and closing arguments, testimony from responding officers, and a stipulation read into the record. The defendant chose not to testify.
According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to the 6700 block of 47th Avenue shortly after 1 a.m. on a noise complaint involving a loud truck. Officers found the 45-year-old slumped over in the driver’s seat of a large pickup with the engine running and music playing. He was incoherent, slurred his speech, and struggled to follow commands. An open alcohol container was suspected to be in the vehicle.
He admitted to driving to the location from a bar and said he intended to stay at a relative’s house. Officers arrested him after he refused to perform field sobriety tests. A blood draw later showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.256.
During a post-arrest search of the vehicle, officers discovered a loaded Glock 27 pistol in the center console. The gun had been reported stolen and belonged to a federal agent.
Judge Gerad Dougvillo imposed a 10-day jail sentence for the firearm possession conviction and 180 days for the alcohol-related charge, to be served consecutively. The man will be eligible for Huber release after 20 days. He was taken into custody immediately following the verdict.
Additional penalties include a $4,632 fine, a three-year driver’s license revocation, a 24-month ignition interlock requirement, mandatory alcohol and drug treatment, and a DNA sample submission. The court also ordered the destruction of the seized firearm and ammunition.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sarah Norkus, who joined the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office earlier this year after several years as a prosecutor in Illinois.
“Sarah is a great asset to this office. She is a tough, smart, and hard-working litigator. I believe that Kenosha County is very fortunate that she is a prosecutor here,” said Norkus’s supervisor, Deputy District Attorney Drew Burgoyne.
District Attorney Xavier Solis added, “Assistant District Attorney Sarah Norkus exemplifies what this office stands for—firm, fair, and fearless prosecution. The people of Kenosha County deserve prosecutors who fight for justice, protect victims, and stand firm against criminal conduct, and that’s exactly what Sarah brings to the table.”
Norkus previously served in the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, where she worked in misdemeanor, domestic violence, felony, and narcotics divisions. She earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2020.
