Eyota man sentenced to jail time, supervised probation and fines for felony DWI charge in Mower County District Court

An Eyota man who was an alleged passenger in a vehicle found to contain approximately 140 grams of methamphetamine and just over $3,000 in cash after a traffic stop in the 28000 block of 785th Avenue in Racine Township in Mower County on September 30th, 2018 has been sentenced to jail time, supervised probation and fines and fees in Mower County District Court.

33-year old Shane Robert Merchlewitz was sentenced Thursday to 180 days in jail, seven years of supervised probation and just over $1,000 in fines and fees for a felony charge of 1st degree DWI, under the influence of a controlled substance.  A 64-month prison sentence was stayed for seven years if Merchlewitz complies with the 26 different conditions of his probation, and he first pleaded guilty to the charge in May of 2019.  

Merchlewitz was convicted on the charge in September of 2020, and felony charges of 1st degree drugs, possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 1st degree drugs, possession of 50 grams or more of cocaine or methamphetamine and for DWI, operating a motor vehicle with any amount of Schedule I/II drugs, not marijuana in the defendant’s system, plus a gross misdemeanor charge of driving after revocation, inimical to public safety in the case were all dismissed with Merchlewitz’s guilty plea.