MASON CITY – A Mason City man is guilty of his third drunk driving offense and is now behind bars.
A Mason City police officer stopped a vehicle at the 300 block of 1st Street NE for expired registration Saturday morning, January 23 at about 2:01 AM. After an investigation, the officer found that the driver, 36-year-old Michael Patrick Melhus, was driving with a suspended license and no registration. The officer further determined that Melhus was intoxicated.
Melhus was arrested and charged with second-offense operating while intoxicated and driving without a valid license and registration. Melhus and his public defender eventually entered a guilty plea to the drunk driving charge on April 28, after earlier pleading not guilty. As a result of the guilty plea, Melhus – who claims to be a pizza delivery man for Domino’s – was sentenced to jail for 7 days, his license was revoked (again), and he was ordered to pay $2,743.25 in fines and court fees.
The Iowa State Patrol arrested Melhus back in June of 2014 for drunk driving, and he later pled guilty to first offense operating while intoxicated. He was ordered to pay $2,233.24 in fines and court fees, but records show he’s paid just $100.00.
Melhus was also arrested back in 2001 in Story county for drunk driving. He pled guilty.
