Court News

Felony OWI A Shawano man was ordered held on a $25,000 bond after being arrested Sunday for his alleged seventh drunken driving offense. James V. Pennewell, 53, was pulled over in Gresham after narrowly missing a Stockbridge-Munsee police squad while speeding, according to the criminal complaint. A preliminary breath test showed a blood/alcohol level of 0.16 percent, twice the legal limit, according to the complaint. Pennewell could face a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if found guilty of seventh-offense operating while intoxicated. Pennewell is also charged with misdemeanor counts of obstructing an officer for allegedly giving false information during his arrest, operating while revoked and attempted criminal damage to property for allegedly kicking at the squad car window. According to court records, Pennewell has three previous OWI convictions in Shawano County, including one causing injury, two in Rock County and one in Grant County that also caused great bodily harm. He was sentenced in his last conviction in Rock County in February 2012 to 18 months in prison and 18 months extended supervision. Pennewell is due in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing on the new charges. Aggravated battery A Shawano woman is facing a felony count of domestic-abuse related battery after a domestic disturbance in the city last week. Debbie A. Smith, 50, is accused of causing great bodily harm to a man during a fight Friday in which she allegedly hit him with a stick and threw objects at him that caused a serious cut to his arm, according to the criminal complaint. Smith could face a maximum possible penalty of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. She is free on a $750 cash bond and is due in court for a preliminary hearing Dec. 4.