(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Racine woman convicted of both second- and third-offense operating while intoxicated avoided traditional jail time Thursday after Judge Jodi L. Meier imposed work release sentences and deviated from what prosecutors sought, despite detailed allegations of dangerous driving in both cases.
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
Stacey Ann Aronson, 45, appeared in court Jan. 8 for a combined plea and sentencing hearing on two separate OWI cases stemming from incidents in May and September of 2024. Aronson pleaded guilty in both matters and was taken into custody immediately following sentencing.
The second-offense OWI case arose from a May 23, 2024 incident on Sheridan Road, where police were dispatched after a witness reported a vehicle driving erratically, crossing into oncoming traffic and nearly striking other motorists. According to the criminal complaint, the witness followed the vehicle into the parking lot of La Fogata and took the driver’s keys to prevent her from continuing to drive.
Officers arrived to find Aronson, who admitted she had been drinking vodka and told officers she had taken “a couple of shots” after having a hard week. Police located an open bottle of vodka inside the vehicle. Officers observed glassy eyes and signs of impairment, and Aronson performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests, losing balance and failing to follow instructions. A blood draw was conducted after her arrest.
The third-offense OWI case stemmed from a separate incident on Sept. 19, 2024, while Aronson was already on bond for the earlier OWI. A Kenosha County sheriff’s deputy observed Aronson’s vehicle repeatedly drifting between lanes near Highway 50 and I-94, failing to signal lane changes, and remaining stopped at a green arrow before eventually turning onto the interstate onramp.
During the traffic stop, the deputy observed glassy eyes, slurred speech, and difficulty producing documents. Aronson denied drinking, but failed multiple field sobriety tests, repeatedly losing balance. She was arrested and transported for a blood draw. Because the incident occurred while she was on bond for the earlier OWI, prosecutors also charged her with misdemeanor bail jumping, which was later dismissed and read in at sentencing.
During Thursday’s hearing, the court stated it would deviate from standard sentencing based on what the judge described as extensive alcohol treatment already completed by Aronson.
In the third-offense OWI case, the court sentenced Aronson to 180 days, ordered to be served consecutive to her second-offense case, with credit for one day already served. The sentence allows work release for employment only, with no electronic monitoring. The court revoked Aronson’s driver’s license for 30 months, ordered an ignition interlock device, imposed a $2,000 fine plus court costs, and ordered an OWI assessment. If the financial obligations are not paid, the court imposed an alternative of 90 days in the drunk driving treatment program or 93 days without work release.
In the second-offense OWI case, Aronson was sentenced to 30 days, ordered consecutive to another misdemeanor case, with credit for one day. That sentence also allows work release for employment only, with no electronic monitoring. The court revoked her driver’s license for 12 months, ordered an ignition interlock device, and imposed a $350 fine plus costs, with an alternative of 93 days without work release if unpaid.
Although the sentences were ordered consecutively, the court’s decision to allow work release in both cases — and to deviate downward from the prosecution’s recommendation — resulted in a significantly more lenient outcome than sought by the district attorney’s office.
The sentencing adds to ongoing criticism that Kenosha County courts continue to treat repeat OWI offenses lightly. Observers note that second- and third-offense drunk driving cases frequently receive reduced consequences, a pattern that often precedes fourth, fifth, and even sixth OWI convictions.
Despite multiple alcohol-related driving convictions and documented dangerous driving behavior in both cases, Aronson avoided traditional jail time, reinforcing broader concerns about how repeat impaired driving offenses are handled in Kenosha County.
6 Responses
Have Miss Stacey call me. I can give her a ride, hell i can take her to work and back thus saving the community from danger and keep paying her taxes and the karma thing…so,yeah no fixing here..dose she know Miss Jacqueline by chance 🤔
I seriously don’t get it. Judges soft of DUIs what gives?? It’s only a matter of time when she does it again and kills an innocent person. Kenosha Judges need to step it up .
Certain judges are soft on DWI cases, get the judge who worries about the public and they will give you time
Would
Put her on a road clean-up crew…Friday nights…in one of those dark blue prison outfits.
Do it one more time.