Calling Charges ‘Shocking’ Judge Doubles Bail to $100,000 on DUI
38 year-old Jerame Wozniak was arrested on Saturday by law enforcement officers with the U.S. Forest Service after allegedly allowing a nine year-old girl to drive a Subaru up a forest road because he was allegedly drunk.
At his Missoula Justice Court appearance on Monday, Deputy Missoula County Attorney Caitlin Williams explained the charges to Judge Alex Beal
“The State is recommending bail in the amount of $50,000” said Williams. “This defendant is currently on felony probation for DUI, and at the time of this incident had his nine year-old niece driving his vehicle up a Forest Service road. When the vehicle was stopped the defendant had his penis exposed, and the state is currently investigating that. He has numerous misdemeanor and felony convictions, including DUI’s from 2018, 2015, 2011 and 2003.”
Forest Service Officers Sholz and Sherman observed a white Subaru wagon traveling toward them at mile marker 9.5 miles on the 365 road. The car was traveling approximately 35-40 miles per hour. The driver appeared to be a juvenile white female and was not wearing a seat belt. She was later identified as a 9-year-old girl.
When officers pulled the vehicle over Wozniak had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from him. Officer Sherman learned that Wozniak was on probation and had a suspended license. There was a Coca-Cola bottle in the vehicle that smelled strongly of alcohol and an open bottle of Canadian Mist whiskey in the vehicle.
Wozniak had difficulty keeping his balance while trying to walk back to the rear of the Subaru. His pants zipper was completely unzipped, and he did not appear to be wearing any underwear.
He was taken into custody and the nine year-old girl was transported to safety by the officers.
Calling the charges ‘shocking’ Judge Beal said the $50,000 bail asked for by the state was ‘too kind’, and instead doubled the bail to $100,000.
His next court appearance will be July 19.