(Kenosha County Sheriff)
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. – A 54-year-old Racine man with a lengthy drunk driving history was charged Monday with his fifth offense of operating while intoxicated, after allegedly speeding at 80 mph through the Village of Somers while under the influence of alcohol.
James Kenney Taylor was also charged with operating without a valid license, his second such offense in three years. Court Commissioner William Michel II set Taylor’s cash bail at $7,500 during his initial appearance Monday afternoon. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 1.
According to a criminal complaint, a Kenosha County sheriff’s deputy clocked Taylor’s vehicle going 80 mph in a 55 mph zone on Highway 31 just before midnight on July 27. The deputy observed the vehicle swerve out of its lane before initiating a traffic stop.
When approached by the deputy, Taylor was reportedly incoherent, had bloodshot eyes, droopy eyelids, and struggled to stay balanced. He admitted to attempting to light a cigarette but denied drinking. The deputy noted a strong odor of intoxicants and asked Taylor to perform field sobriety tests.
According to the report, Taylor failed all tests and gave six insufficient samples on a preliminary breath test device. A certified medical technician later drew a blood sample for evidentiary testing; results were not yet available at the time of filing.
Taylor has four prior convictions for impaired driving—three in Missouri between 1997 and 2010, and one in Minnesota in 2020—making this his fifth offense, which is a Class G felony in Wisconsin and carries a mandatory minimum of 18 months confinement if convicted.
The complaint also notes that Taylor has a recent conviction for operating without a license in Racine County earlier this year.
Taylor remains in custody pending his next court appearance.
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