O'Neill man bound over to district court on felony DUI charge

William E. Koutsoumpas, 61, of O’Neill waived his right to preliminary hearing when he faced the Honorable Kale Burdick in the Holt County courtroom in O’Neill last week.

Burdick bound Koutsoumpas over to the Holt County district court on a Class 2A felony driving under the influence of alcohol charge. Koutsoumpas is alleged to have three prior DUI convictions, in 2011 and 2012.

Burdick also waived jurisdiction to the district court on two infractions charges alleged in the complaint, possession of an open alcohol container and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

District court arraignment is set April 17. Bond, posted Jan. 25, in the amount of $15,000, 10%, is continued.

Koutsoumpas was arrested by an O’Neill officer who was dispatched to assist a vehicle in the ditch approximately 1/4 mile west of Highway 281. According to an affidavit filed by the officer, another individual first claimed to have been driving the vehicle. However, after interviewing the individuals at the scene, the officer alleges Koutsoumpas admitted driving the vehicle. The officer indicated the defendant failed field sobriety tests and blew a .233 preliminary breath test, with a post-arrest Datamaster test result of .213.

Koutsoumpas is represented by Michael Sholes of O’Neill.