Deputy Says Performer Was "Physically And Verbally Resistive"

Air show performer Patty Wagstaff was once again scheduled to go before the Winnebago County Circuit Court on Tuesday, in connection to an incident earlier this year during EAA AirVenture 2008. She also had a new charge to answer to.

The Oshkosh Northwestern reports Wagstaff was charged last week with a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer, which carries a maximum penalty of nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine. That's in addition to a previous first-offense drunk driving charge, stemming from the late-evening incident July 31 on the grounds at Wittman Regional Airport.

As ANN reported, Wagstaff told ANN she had an altercation with security personnel while attempting to get back from the "Gathering of Eagles" dinner, en route to the nearby Hilton, using interior airport access sometime around 2330 CDT.

Wagstaff admitted she was "in the wrong place at the wrong time"... but the situation deteriorated to the point the Winnebago County Sheriff was called in. She was charged in August with Operating While under Influence (1st) -- marking a first-time offense -- as well as for refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test.

According to a two-paragraph complaint obtained by the Northwestern, the new charge stems from allegations Wagstaff was "physically and verbally resistive" to the commands of a Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputy who responded to the scene. Few details of the incident were mentioned in the complaint.

"Every complaint has to have the bare minimum to essentially put the defendant on notice," said Winnebago County District Attorney Christian Gossett. "And this includes the basic allegation that she was arrested for operating while intoxicated and in the course of being taken into custody, she did resist officers."

Wagstaff, 57, was not required to appear in person before the court Tuesday.

FMI: www.pattywagstaff.com, www.co.winnebago.wi.us/