Chris Abele: OWI

So Chris Abele, self-proclaimed "Lefty" and candidate for Milwaukee County Executive, had an OWI and didn't show up in Municipal Court for 7 YEARS!

We know that Abele ignores parking rules, to the tune of $2,169.

Now we learn that Abele chose to ignore an OWI for 7 YEARS!

A disturbing pattern is developing here. The rich Chris "PRFR0CK" Abele, the guy who pays no state or federal income taxes, thinks he's above the law.

From liberal, union member Dan Bice, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

There are, of course, the rules that most of us have to abide by.

And then there are the rules that millionaire philanthropist Chris Abele follows.

Glendale records show Abele, one of two candidates for Milwaukee County executive, took more than seven years to show up in Municipal Court to respond to a first-offense operating while intoxicated offense.

Abele's campaign issued the following statement today:

"I made a stupid mistake 15 years ago, accepted responsibility, paid my debt and encourage everyone to make responsible decisions everyday, including today as they celebrate St. Patrick's Day."

...In July 1996, Abele was arrested in the northern suburb for driving while under the influence. Milwaukee police began pursuing Abele's green, two-door Mazda after he was clocked driving 65 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone. After a short chase, Abele finally pulled over at the intersection of N. Port Washington Rd. and W. Silver Spring Dr. in Glendale.

The report - obtained this week by No Quarter via open records from Glendale city officials - said Abele "had a strong odor of an intoxicant on/about himself, slurred speech and had trouble maintaining his balance."

"I then asked Abele how much he had to drink tonight," the officer wrote. "Abele said about 5 drinks."

He failed multiple field sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.21, more than twice the amount considered evidence of intoxication at the time.

He also was ticketed for non-registration of his car and operating after suspension of his driver's license, second offense. .

He was 29.

But when it came time for the scion of Boston businessman John Abele to show up in court on Aug. 21, 1996, he was a no show.

A bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

Not until December 2003 - more than seven years after the bench warrant was issued - did Abele finally appear in court.

Finally, in February 2004, Abele entered a no contest plea and was given the option of paying $694 or serving 27 days in jail. He paid the fine.

Read the report.

Abele is, or was in 1996, 160 pounds?

Wow. He must have lost weight. At least on TV, he looks like he'd weigh 140, tops.

Based on the report, including the results of his field sobriety test, Abele was really drunk.

He was going 65 in a 35 mph zone, driving a car with no plates. The report states:

The vehicle refused to pull over right away and as it approached the stop light at the intersection of N. Port Washington Rd. and W. Silver Spring, the vehicle stopped at which time [Police Officer Michael] Grogan exited his squad and approached the driver. Grogan asked the driver to exit his vehicle and noticed that the driver had a strong odor of an intoxicant on/about himself, slurred speech and had trouble maintaining his balance.

More:

Abele's eyes were bloodshot, his speech was slurred and when he tried to stand up straight he would fall back against his auto....

The guy couldn't stand or speak well and he was going 65 mph!

That's frightening.

But what's candidate Abele's reaction to these revelations?

"I made a stupid mistake 15 years ago, accepted responsibility, paid my debt and encourage everyone to make responsible decisions everyday, including today as they celebrate St. Patrick's Day."

Oh, yes - the old "stupid mistake" excuse. Abele's taking a page from the Chris Larson playbook. Shoplifter Chris Larson said, "I made a dumb mistake."

The fact is Abele made a terrible CHOICE that could have had deadly consequences.

The fact is Abele DID NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. He evaded taking responsibility for 7 YEARS! It's an absolute joke that he claims to have taken responsibility. Waiting 7 YEARS is NOT taking responsibility. PATHETIC.

Yeah, he paid his debt. I think it was way too little way too late. Did he pay 7 YEARS of interest on his "debt"? I don't know how those things work.

Abele didn't just make a "stupid mistake 15 years ago."

He continued to make a TERRIBLE CHOICE for 7 YEARS after his drunken driving arrest. He completely ignored his responsibility for 7 YEARS.

There was a warrant for his arrest. Abele didn't show up in court until December 2003.

The fact that Abele drove drunk and DID NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DRIVING DRUNK really disturbs me. Like Chris Larson's shoplifting, it speaks to his character.