Motorcyclist Facing 4th OWI Charge in 5 Years

Racine County Sheriff's deputies say a 38-year-old Pleasant Prairie man faces felony OWI charges after he was pulled over while riding his motorcycle during the Labor Day weekend.

Richard Behringer was charged Friday in Racine County Circuit Court with one felony count of operating while intoxicated, fourth offense and one misdemeanor charge each of operating a motor vehicle while revoked, OWI related; possession of cocaine; possession of drug paraphernalia; and possession of marijuana. If convicted, he faces up to eight years, seven months in jail and/or up to $19,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, deputies were traveling east on Sept. 1 on 7-Mile Road approaching the E. Frontage Road when they observed a motorcycle heading west that stopped at an intersection without a stop sign and without a need to yield other vehicles.

Officers initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified by his driver's license as Behringer. The defendant did have a passenger with him, and that individual got off the bike and sat nearby on the shoulder when deputies approached.

Behringer did not have current registration for his motorcycle but claimed he sent it into the state for renewal. Deputies say Behringer was chewing gum during the conversation, but they could still smell intoxicants coming from his person.

When they asked him if he'd been drinking, Behringer admitted that he had a few beers so deputies administered field sobriety tests, which he failed, the complaint reads. A breathalyzer administered at the scene registered a .116. Because Behringer has previous OWI convictions, he is prohibited from driving with anything more than a .02 alcohol level.

Deputies took Behringer into custody and transported him to the Wheaton Franciscan St. Mary's emergency room for a blood draw, to which the defendant consented. He was then booked into the Racine County Jail without incident, the complaint reads.

Behringer had his first initial appearance on Sept. 3 but it was adjourned so he could find legal counsel. When he returned on Sept. 12, he was assigned a cash bond of $5,000 and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 16. Online court records indicate Behringer posted bond Monday and online jail records do not show him in custody any longer.