MASON CITY – A man caught drunk driving over and over will go back to prison for his latest offense earlier this year in Mason City.
Johnny Wayne Lee, age 49, is about to be shipped back to an Iowa prison after yet another drunk driving conviction. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison for felony drunk driving. Mason City police tell NIT that on February 18, 2017, at 2:37 AM, an MCPD officer observed Lee sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that had just pulled up to the gas pumps at Yes Way Central in downtown Mason City. The officer recognized Lee as the operator and knew him not to have a valid driver’s license – due to numerous drunk driving convictions. The officer approached Lee and verified the engine was still running. After a roadside sobriety investigation, Lee was arrested for Driving while Barred; Failure to Prove Security Against Liability, and OWI 3rd or subsequent offense – a felony.
At a plea hearing, a Cerro Gordo county prosecutor amended the felony charge to “non-habitual offender” and the charge of driving while barred was dropped. This, despite Lee’s previous drunk driving arrests and being caught red-handed with a running vehicle by police. He must pay $4,889.75 in fines and court fees.
Lee was stopped by a Mason City police officer Saturday morning at about 2 AM on the morning of April 25, 2015 near 1st Street SW and Jackson Avenue. During the traffic stop, the officer determined Lee was intoxicated, and uncovered that Lee is a barred driver. He was arrested on a charge of felony third offense operating while intoxicated. After a guilty plea to felony drunk driving, judge Karen Salic let Lee walk with a suspended 5-year prison sentence and just 30 days in jail. Records show Lee was ordered to pay $4,806.25 in fines and court fees and never paid a dime on the balance.
Lee was last arrested for drunk driving in 2010, again by Mason City police, for the same charges of third offense operating while intoxicated and driving while barred. He was sent to prison on a 5 year sentence but served a fraction of that time. He was also ordered to pay over $7,500 in fines and court fees and still owes $1,904.04 on that balance.
Alcohol is one of the most Viscous drugs.