Fined For First-Time DUI, Resisting An Officer
Aerobatic pilot
Patty Wagstaff appeared in a Wisconsin court Friday to face charges
stemming from a July 31 incident at Wittman Regional Airport during
last summer's AirVenture.
Wagstaff, 57, pleaded no contest to first-offense drunken
driving and a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer. A related
charge of refusing to submit to breathalyzer and blood-alcohol
tests was dropped as part of a plea bargain.
Winnebago County Assistant District Attorney Adam Levin told the
court that after her arrest, Wagstaff was verbally abusive to law
enforcement, hospital and jail staff, using profanity, calling the
officers "pigs" and saying they "did not know who they were dealing
with."
"This was an unpleasant display of somebody thinking they were
more special than others," Levin said, and recommended the court
fine Wagstaff $1,300 and impose a nine-month suspension of her
driving privileges.
Defense Attorney Michael Lim argued that allegations of abusive
language and the police reports in general had been exaggerated.
Lim requested the court set the fine at $225 with a six month
license revocation, reported the Oshkosh Northwestern.
Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Key sentenced
Wagstaff to pay $500 in fines plus court costs, and revoked her
driver's license for eight months. "This isn't something atypical
that police have to deal with," Key said. "And I don't think the
defendant should pay anything more because of who she is or
anything less either."
As ANN reported, Wagstaff had the altercation
at AirVenture 2008 while attempting to get back from the "Gathering
of Eagles" dinner, en route to the nearby Hilton, using interior
airport access. Wagstaff was reportedly among a group of at least
three other persons, and apparently got off-kilter on the grounds
of Wittman Field. Her vehicle got the rapt attention of Oshkosh
airport/airshow security, and the situation went downhill from
there.
Wagstaff freely admitted that she was "in the wrong place at the
wrong time" and horribly embarrassed at what transpired. Security
"busted" her for being in an unauthorized area on the airport
grounds, and the matter escalated into an "uncomfortable" situation
which required the attention of the Winnebago County Sheriff to
resolve.
Wagstaff had no comment on Friday's outcome, but said that the
EAA has invited her back to Oshkosh to perform at AirVenture
2009.