MASON CITY – A Thornton man is awaiting trial on several upcoming cases and is now serving a jail sentence after pleading guilty to the first of two drunk driving charges.
Gregory Eugene Kolb, age 62 of Thornton, was stopped by Clear Lake police on March 8, 2015, and charged with first offense operating while under the influence. He entered a not guilty plea on May 4, but then pled guilty on August 10. Despite a number of other legal entanglements and arrests between his arrest and his plea deal, Kolb was given half-off the standard drunk driving fine of $1,250; $625.00 of the fine was suspended. He was ordered to pay a total of $953.75 in fines and court fees and serve 2 days in jail.
After the drunk driving arrest in March, Kolb found himself in deeper trouble. A Cerro Gordo deputy conducted a traffic stop of Kolb near Grouse Avenue and 180th Street on Saturday, June 19 at about 10:14 PM. Kolb was allegedly speeding. During the traffic stop and investigation, the deputy determined that Kolb was intoxicated, and placed Kolb under arrest on a charge of operating while under the influence. He now stands charged with another charge of first offense operating while intoxicated. After a not guilty plea, Kolb awaits a pre-trial conference (possible plea deal) on October 2 and a trial on October 13.
As his license was revoked due to the two drunk driving arrests, Kolb still got behind the wheel of a car, and a Cerro Gordo deputy arrested him at his home after 2 AM Wednesday morning, July 8, for driving with a revoked license. The deputy also gave Kolb a warning for speeding. Kolb again pled not guilty and awaits a pre-trial conference (possible plea deal) on October 16 and a jury trial on October 27.
To make matters worse for Kolb, he was arrested in August in Polk county for public intoxication and illegal drug possession. He will be arraigned in October.
