Deputy Arrests Serial Drunk Driver [AUDIO]

The Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office has arrested a serial drunk driver. Sweetwater Sheriff's Detective Dick Blust said the term "serial drunk driver" is not an exaggeration in the case of Kevin Coates.

Multiple drunk driving offenses:

"Forty-five year old Kevin Coates was arrested for driving under the influence in Rock Springs by Deputy Sheriff Rich Fischer on January 8th. Records showed that only five months before, Coates had pleaded guilty to a previous DUI charge in Circuit Court in Rock Springs and fined $750."

Det. Blust said the investigation discovered Coates had a history of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants convictions and has served prison time for DUII in Oregon.

Convictions in Oregon:

"In Oregon, a third DUII conviction ratchets up to a felony; according to records, Coates has six previous DUII convictions in Oregon going back to 1997, three of which were felony-level."

Coates remained in custody on Friday and a trial date has not yet been set.

Awaiting trial date:

"He appeared before Judge Dan Forgey in Circuit Court in Rock Springs on January 18th, where his case was bound over to District Court. His bond was continued at $15,000, cash or surety, and he remains in custody at the Sweetwater County Detention Center."

So, do drunk driving convictions from other states apply in Wyoming? Yes, they do.

Fourth conviction anywhere:

"The way the statute reads, and works is the total of DUI convictions need not be in Wyoming for the felony upgrade to kick in--four DUI convictions within a ten-year span, period."

If convicted of felony DUI for his 4th offense within 10 years under Wyoming law, Coates faces up to two years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. Coates also faces misdemeanor charges of driving with a suspended license and driving without insurance.