MASON CITY – A local bar owner has been cited for operating while intoxicated.
On March 10th at about 7:08 PM, David Alan Despenas, 46, of Mason City was arrested by Mason City police after a traffic collision at Monroe Avenue and 7th Street SW. A source indicates Despenas’ blood alcohol content was 0.23 at about 9 PM March 10th. The legal driving limit is .08.
Depenas posted $1,000 cash bond and faces a hearing on March 27th.
Despenas had an OWI charge dismissed in 1999 by Judge Carlynn Grupp (Offense Date: 02/28/1999), and then found guilty of OWI in 2001 by Grupp (Offense Date: 09/15/2000.) Grupp dismissed another OWI charge against Despenas in 2001 (Offense Date: 07/23/2001).
Despenas is the owner of Spike’s Bar in Mason City and the Rock Falls Lounge in Rock Falls. In 2011, Judge Colleen Weiland dismissed charges of illegal game betting and keeping a gambling house against Despenas for alleged activities at Spike’s Bar.
Recently, the Rock Falls Lounge was closed down for 30 days due to serving minors alcohol and was set to re-open last week. A source said Tuesday that the bar has not yet re-opened.
At this time, an Ellsworth College instructor, Greg Hodak, is awaiting a trial on March 26th for allegedly severely beating a man while at Spike’s Bar. Hodak was charged with felony willful injury. Hodak is said to be a close friend of Despenas.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
Despenas has never respected the law. Been going on since he was a teenager. Spike’s named after his old man and the bar business is right up their ally. Booze and drugs and who knows whatever. They should really lock this guy up!
The judge will let him off with a slap on the wrist when he should do hard time.
I sure hope that Hodek dude gets what he deserves also. Funny how birds of a feather all flock together.
Remember Tony’s pizza downtown and all that cheese?
Driving drunk is never a good thing and nothing worse than being a drunken bar owner. How can you be responsible for your business and employees? Sad people don’t know their limits.
Some bar owners buy bars so they can have their own personal trough to drink from. Same with some bartenders.
LVS
March 13, 2013 at 12:43 pm
@Names-I am more than capable of posting using intelligence and always use the same name. Not like the rolls and bottom feeders who change names every time they post and are only on here to start trouble. You never have a intelligent post, only something trite and sneaky
notice no one ever steals your name…..comprende’?
OWI’s are no good. Hard to believe people still take the risk. Especially when we have NO ZERO tolerance. YOU CAN drink and drive. You can’t drive drunk and everyone should no what their limit is or don’t drive. It’s a crazy risk that no one needs to take but that’s our Iowan culture. Booze is OK, pot is bad.
LVS
March 13, 2013 at 10:18 am
@Real Reality-It is hard to know who is posting. Most of the time I can tell by the writing style. That one posts all over using different names. Chicken Sh### for sure.
speaking of chicken sh###…pot calling kettle black is Y-O-U. why don’t you use your REAL name? you’re always answering for other people and calling people names or being snarky. and you post like you own this site. if you don’t why don’t YOU back off. chicken sh##.
I think you cracked the case. It all makes sense now. LVS DOES own this site because he IS Matt, although a rather snarky Matt.Dr. Matt and Mr LVS ha ha.
@teetotaler2-look who is talking. Couldn’t you find another name to post under? Try STUPIUD jerk.
LVS that is funny that you purposely misspelled “STUPUID”. Oh you didn’t,then that is even funnier.
using that
waaawaaahaaaaa you hoot my widdle feewings.
When you exercise your 4th amendment rights and make law enforcement look bad, they will come back to the same address.
The bulls were after this guy – they never forget and have the means to make you suffer .
Matt you forgot he is delequent on his property tax on both businesses also.
bar owner gets drunk. imagine that. what’s new?
just curios as to who writes this stuff? is it really news worthy?? is your record clean or should we dig crap up on you?? and bringing the Hodek story up is completly ireleviant. what is the purpose of that?
coming here to read news is like dumpster diving. sometimes you find stuff worth looking for but most times it’s just plain old garbage.
@Anonymous-it could be because the alledegly Hodek beating took place at his PUBLIC bar. And you want to know if it is news worthy? yes, it is. People just might want to know what kind if place Spike’s is so they don’t go there. If you don’t like the article, DON’T READ it.
How do you know if you like the article if you DON’T read it?
THAT is a funny comment!
@Reality-why don’t you try using the same name when you post. You post under different names and make comments just to try to cause trouble. You are always trolling around making sneaky comments but never want to take credit for it.
Reality Check, that is FUNNY stuff.
Amen.
Yeah those high brow drunks wouldn’t want to get their nice polished shoes stepped on while sucking on their martini olice.
LVS, thank you for calling that imposter out. I have been using the name Reality Check for years and this idiot for some reason has decided to use it. I think the name Deushe Bag is still available, perhaps he should use that one. That way he can have it all to himself. You hear that fake Reality Check?? “I”m gonna get midevil on your ass!” (Had to throw a Pulp Fiction quote in there)
@Real Reality-It is hard to know who is posting. Most of the time I can tell by the writing style. That one posts all over using different names. Chicken Sh### for sure.
I don’t know if any of you have noticed, but most people post under some pseudonym. Now you have gotten the “use your real name” and “stop using my clever nickname” out of your system, you can start posting something intelligent, if you are capable.
“Names aren’t Important…” Thank you for suggesting that I post something intelligent. Perhaps I can post something as intelligent as you have…let’s see, I believe your post was “Now you have gotten……” Grammatically, that is so impressive. What is that, Hillbilly Pigeon English? I suggest you use caution before criticizing other people or else enjoy the taste of that foot in your mouth. I hope 8th grade was the best 3 years of your life!!
I posted it that way on purpose in order to illustrate the petty ownership of a made up nickname.
@Names-I am more than capable of posting using intelligence and always use the same name. Not like the rolls and bottom feeders who change names every time they post and are only on here to start trouble. You never have a intelligent post, only something trite and sneaky.
@LVS- So now you’re a Chicken Sh### for posting under multiple names? How about posting constantly under what I can only imagine are initials? Every post I’ve ever made on this site has been under my real name. More than I can say for basically everyone else. You got something to say in a public forum? Put your real name on it and own it like a man. You’re all COWARDS. See I wrote it in caps so you’d know I meant it.
Where is Spike’s? Never heard of it.
In a former fraternal lodge on Delaware Ave. I think it used to be the Eagles Lodge.
Hmmm I just wanted to try this new tool out!
Im surprised Judge Grupp dismissed ANY OWI charges,strange!
You should really learn what the law is, what is relevant and material evidence and the particulars of the court system. Most of what I read here is only speculation and opinions not based on fact. There is more to the Bill of Rights than the 2nd amendment. All our rights are precious.
What about the right to NOT be mowed down by a drunk?! Anyone who drives intoxicated should get an automatic 30 days and at least a $1000 fine. Might make them think twice next time they choose to risk other’s lives. If the officer smells alcohol on a driver it should be an automatic blood test.