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Janesville man in court on ninth OWI charge

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Scott Ross

JANESVILLE — The case against a Janesville man arrested on 10th-offense drunken driving likely will be charged as a ninth offense.

Scott R. Ross, 47, of 612 E. Court St., appeared in Rock County Court on Friday for a preliminary hearing. Testimony was taken and the hearing was continued until Friday, March 26, because the prosecutor needs to obtain a certified copy of Ross’ driving record.

One of Ross’ previous OWI convictions might have been counted twice on his driving record, Assistant District Attorney Jodi Dabson Bollendorf said after the hearing.

Janesville police officer Scott Katzenmeyer testified he received a report of a drunken driver at about 2 a.m. Wednesday, March 3. He said the driver was leaving Willowdale Saloon, 5905 W. Highway 11, Janesville.

Thirty minutes later, a woman reported an accident in the 2600 block of Harvard Drive, according to the criminal complaint.

Katzenmeyer said he saw the vehicle’s driver slide from the driver’s seat to the passenger’s seat of the car.

He said Ross told him he was drunk and didn’t want to do any field sobriety tests. He said Ross smelled like alcohol, had glazed eyes and slurred speech.

Ross denied driving the car, Katzenmeyer said. No footprints or other evidence indicated anyone else was in the car.

Katzenmeyer arrested Ross and took him to jail. He said Ross refused to provide a breath sample, although blood was drawn.

Ross has a history of drunken driving spanning more than 20 years, according to police. He appeared in court Friday shackled and wearing an orange jailhouse suit.

He remains in the Rock County Jail on $15,000 cash bond. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.