MASON CITY – A Clear Lake man who recently dodged a felony drunk driving charge and was promptly caught yet again dodged a felony conviction after a plea deal.
Joshua Jeffrey Pappas, age 36, was arrested by Clear Lake police on March 10, 2017 for drunk driving and driving while revoked due to drunk driving. He was then charged with felony third-offense operating while intoxicated.
In a plea deal reached last month, Pappas pled guilty to a reduced charge of second-offense operating while intoxicated. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, a suspended 2-year prison term, $2,740.25 in fines and court fees and 2 years of probation. His driver’s license remains revoked. The charge of driving while revoked was dismissed.
Pappas pled guilty on April 11, 2016 to first-offense operating while intoxicated after a plea deal from third-offense operating while intoxicated. Pappas was sentenced to two days in jail plus $1,797.50 in fines and court fees in that case.
It’s almost like no one actually needed a crystal ball to predict this guy would do it again. He almost killed two of my family members. The first responders called the Iowa State Patrol Fatality unit because they didn’t believe anyone would have survived the accident. Their car was thrown 150ft and rolled four times after he blew through a stop sign on his way home from day drinking.
https://www.southeastiowaunion.com/news/serious-injuries-after-hwy-1-crash/
In Iowa, drunk driving is no big deal. You can get caught and convicted twice and still become Governor, like Kim Reynolds did.
a friend of mine died in a fiery crash caused by a third time drunk driving offender with a revoked license. this guy will always be a threat until he chooses to stop drinking …for good. he needs the program. for his own sake.
…and all this…because he has “learned his lesson…or what??? We will be hearing about him again…and soon I fear!
I think the city should use tax money to provide some type of taxi or shuttle service for intoxicated individuals. Alcoholism is a disease, its not their fault. We, as a community should come together and help out these drinkers. The disease is what is making the poor choices for the, therefor it is not fair to hold them accountable.
Mr.Brainstorm: what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this page is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. Billy Madison!!
Perhaps Mr. Brainstorm wrote that comment using sarcasm, in an effort to point awareness to the current generation of people who believe they are owed, entitled and in no way accountable. Now commonly known as snowflakes and liberals.
This is the most bizarre history of drunk driving to follow. He needs to be in jail. That should help sober him up. You should hope that the next time he drives drunk he doesn’t kill your loved ones. You may well change your attitude if that happened to you. Guess taking his license away deterred him from reoffending.
He’ll be allowed to plea down until he kills somebody while driving drunk, then it will be to late, for somebody. Maybe that somebody, will be in your family.
I don’t want to drive drunk, but how else am I supposed to get home every day?
Uber.
Uber takes money and a credit card. Most of these people have neither. Public transportation that runs 24 hours would be a good option.
Another stupid comment, they had the money to get drunk, they have the money to pay for a ride. They chose not to do that and take a chance to drive. Even though these options are available, they do not use them. (It would be much cheaper to pay for a ride or walk than pay a $3,000 fine which they will never pay by the way.) They need to be put in lockdown at a treatment facility.