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Timothy J. Wachowski

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BAY CITY, MI -- When a Bay City man with "Psycho X Pathic" tattooed across his brow crashed into another vehicle, his blood-alcohol level was nearly four times the point legally considered drunk.

Timothy J. Wachowski on Wednesday, Feb. 17, appeared before Bay County District Judge Timothy J. Kelly and waived his right to a preliminary examination, prompting Kelly to bind his case over to Circuit Court. Kelly then acted as a judge of the higher court in accepting Wachowki's plea.

Wachowski, 32, pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, third offense. The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The charge stems from an incident that happened the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 29, when police responded to the area of South Monroe and 15th streets in response to a hit-and-run crash. A blue 2003 Dodge Neon had struck a 2005 Chevrolet from behind in the 300 block of South Monroe Street, court records show.

Witnesses told police the Dodge's female passenger tried pulling the male driver -- Wachowski -- from the wreck. He eventually ran and tried to hide, but was followed by witnesses, court records show.

Police found Wachowski sitting in snow on the sidewalk near the Rally's at 102 S. Madison Ave. He smelled slightly of intoxicants, was shaking, had a blank stare, pinpoint pupils, and did not respond to officers' verbal commands, court records show.

In exchange for the plea, Bay County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Huber agreed to dismiss charges of failure to stop after a collision, driving on a suspended license second offense, and an unrelated count of indecent exposure dating back to 2005. Huber also agreed not to seek a habitual offender sentencing enhancement.

Wachowski on Wednesday told the judge he consumed some type of alcohol before the collision, though he couldn't remember the kind.

"Police apprehended me, sir," Wachowski told Kelly. "I can't tell you if there was (a crash) or not."

Wachowski's attorney, Bruce K. Mannikko, said a blood test revealed his client's blood-alcohol level was 0.316 percent. In Michigan, a person is legally intoxicated when their blood-alcohol level is at 0.08 percent.

Mannikko asked the judge to reduce Wachowki's bond, which has been set at $25,000 since his arraignment. Mannikko said his client has an employment opportunity waiting for him if released from jail.

Huber objected, saying Wachowski has drunken driving-related convictions from several years ago in Indiana and Florida, as well as convictions for violent offenses outside of Michigan. He also referred to Wachowski's blood-alcohol content as "alarmingly high."

"He's lucky to be alive at this point," Huber said.

"I agree," Kelly said. "We have a very high blood-alcohol content here."

Kelly declined to reduce Wachowski's bond. Wachowski's sentencing date by a Circuit Court judge is pending.