KENOSHA, Wis. — A 49-year-old Kenosha woman whose latest drunken-driving case was originally charged as her fourth OWI was convicted Thursday of OWI third offense and sentenced to 200 days in jail with Huber work-release privileges by Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Jason Rossell, a liberal. Rossell is very soft on crime, especially with repeat OWI drivers.
Sarai N. Gilmore pleaded guilty Thursday, Sept. 24, to OWI third offense. Rossell sentenced her to 200 days in the Kenosha County Jail, gave her credit for three days already served and authorized Huber privileges “for any proper purpose.” Gilmore was taken into custody from court.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Although the conviction is legally classified as OWI third offense, the criminal complaint filed against Gilmore last year identified three previous OWI-related convictions before the Sept. 20, 2025 incident. The complaint initially charged the latest case as OWI fourth offense.
The complaint listed previous convictions from Illinois in 2009 and Kenosha County cases arising in 2020 and 2021. That makes Thursday’s disposition her fourth OWI-related conviction appearing in the record, despite the latest conviction being legally treated as a third offense.
Court records show the reduction was deliberate. At a June 29 hearing, the court minutes stated, “Charge will be amended from 4th to 3rd. Amended Information needs to be filed.” The docket does not explain why one of the previously listed convictions was determined not to count toward the enhancement.
Prior OWI Seriously Injured Another Driver
Gilmore’s second OWI involved a crash that seriously injured another motorist. She was charged in that case with operating while intoxicated causing injury as a second or subsequent offense.
According to the complaint, Gilmore turned in front of another SUV, causing a violent collision. The other driver suffered a shattered right tibia where it meets the femur, required surgery and had a metal plate and screws installed. She was expected to be unable to put weight on the leg for approximately eight weeks.
Gilmore’s blood-alcohol concentration in that case was .206, according to the complaint.
Latest Case Began With Hit-And-Run Allegation
In the latest case, Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched Sept. 20, 2025, for a reported hit-and-run crash in Somers. Deputies located Gilmore at her residence after witnesses identified a Nissan Armada registered to her.
Deputies reported that Gilmore had slurred speech, red, bloodshot and glassy eyes and smelled of alcohol. During field sobriety testing, she allegedly stepped off the line, missed heel-to-toe steps and put her foot down three times during the one-leg stand. At one point, Gilmore told a deputy, “I totally just failed.” Her preliminary breath test registered .240.
Deputies also learned Gilmore’s driver’s license remained revoked because of an alcohol-related conviction and that she was required to have an ignition-interlock device installed. Deputies reported no IID was installed in her vehicle.
As part of Thursday’s disposition, prosecutors dismissed charges of operating while revoked, violating an ignition-interlock order and hit-and-run. Gilmore was also ordered to pay fines and costs, undergo an OWI assessment, have her driver’s license revoked for 27 months and use an ignition-interlock device for 27 months.
2 Responses
what is so hard about getting an uber??? Selfish Biaaatch
The state dismissed the revoked drivers license, and no insurance, and no IID, and 4th OWI and plowing into someone AGAIN, and really handed down a thorough sentence by ordering to get a license, obtain insurance, get an IID, and continue to work in the community and not f*cking kill someone when this NEXT time comes around. Make it make sense.