Fourth DUI earns split sentence

A North Dakota man has been given a split sentence for a felony charge of driving while under the influence, fourth offense, after being spotted driving in a suspicious manner on the off ramp of I-90 in July, 2020. Myron Jepson has three previous known convictions for DUI.

According to court reports, Jepson’s vehicle was spotted by a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper with a car waiting behind it. The vehicle then allegedly went straight onto the on ramp and appeared to swerve, possibly trying to park beside a delineator post.

The trooper reports getting closer to the vehicle and observing that the vehicle was stopped on the left side of the roadway with half the vehicle in the lane of travel. As he pulled up, the driver allegedly jumped out of his truck and met the trooper at the rear of the vehicle.

Jepson allegedly claimed he had not drunk alcohol since leaving his home that morning. While taking an inventory of the truck, the trooper alleges he found a partial bottle of Fireball Whiskey in the center console.

The results of a breathalyzer test at the scene allegedly returned a result of 0.25 blood alcohol level.

Jepson pled guilty to a fourth offense of driving while under the influence, with three previous known convictions in McKenzie County, ND. Judge Stuart S. Healy III sentenced him to between 30 and 60 months in a state penal institution, with credit for four days served, and a $1000 fine.

At the judge’s order, the sentence in the state penal institution is suspended and Jepson will serve 90 days in the Crook County Detention Center. He will then be placed on supervised probation for four years.