Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
Two OVI charges in short time lands woman in jail
By Margie Wuebker
An Auglaize County woman faces felony charges of operating a vehicle under the influence after being stopped twice by Celina Police.
Jennifer R. Shoup, 35, of Buckland, remains incarcerated at the Mercer County Adult Detention Center following a Monday afternoon appearance in Celina Municipal Court.
The charges stem from several incidents taking place late Friday afternoon. Police responded to reports of an intoxicated woman driving a vehicle near Dollar General on Havemann Road. The vehicle was subsequently stopped at 5:48 p.m. in the 200 block of West Fayette Street.
Shoup was arrested and processed at the police station, where her blood-alcohol content was determined to be more than twice the legal limit, according to a news release from Chief Dave Slusser.
She was released into the custody of an adult friend after being served with OVI and driving under suspension citations (DUS).
A short time later another police officer observed someone being dropped off by the suspect's car and then driving away. The officer followed the vehicle and stopped it a second time after spotting a traffic violation.
Shoup, who was behind the wheel, was arrested a second time for OVI and DUS as well as an open container violation. This time officers took her to jail on a $25,000 cash bond. The vehicle was towed and impounded
Slusser explained each of the felony charges contains two counts - one for operating a motor vehicle under the influence and the other for operating a vehicle with an illegal-blood alcohol limit. The woman reportedly has prior convictions for similar offenses in the past six years.
A preliminary hearing will be held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the felony charges to merit presentation to a grand jury. Shoup also could waive her right to such a proceeding, in which case the matter will be transferred to Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
For the misdemeanor charges, Shoup pleaded guilty Monday and was fined $150 on the two DUS offenses and $50 for the open container violation plus court costs. Municipal Court Judge James Scheer also imposed three days in jail with credit for time served since her arrest.
