A Kona grand jury indicted a 32-year old Paauilo man with habitual drunken driving.
A Kona grand jury indicted a 32-year old Paauilo man with habitual drunken driving.
The three-count indictment dated Sept. 8 charges Julio Cesar Ochoa Gomez, aka Julio Cesar Ochoa, with habitual DUI, driving after his license was suspended or revoked for DUI and driving without insurance.
A bench warrant was issued for his arrest, setting his bail at $12,500. Conditions of bail include no drugs or alcohol, random testing for drugs and alcohol and no driving.
Habitual DUI is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment.
According to the indictment, the incident occurred Dec. 13, 2013. A police spokeswoman said Ochoa Gomez was pulled over at 9:28 p.m. that evening on Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 11) at the 108 mile marker in Captain Cook after officers noticed him weaving and crossing the centerline.
The indictment claims Ochoa Gomez’s blood-alcohol content was 0.08 grams or more of alcohol per 100 milliliters or cubic centimeters of blood, and that Ochoa Gomez had three or more prior convictions for driving under the influence of an intoxicant in the 10 years prior to the alleged offense.
According to court records, Ochoa Gomez also is scheduled to stand trial for a previous habitual DUI charge Dec. 16 before Kona Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra.
He’s free on $10,000 bail in that case.
Ochoa Gomez also is on felony probation for habitual drunken driving. Court records indicate he pleaded guilty Dec. 7, 2009, to habitual DUI, driving after license was suspended or revoked for DUI and driving without insurance.
He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years probation by Kona Circuit Judge Elizabeth Strance.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.