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Steamboat man faces felony DUI charge

Matt Stensland







— A Steamboat Springs man faces a felony after being arrested on suspicion of a DUI-related charge for the fourth time.

Brian Allen Autry, 40, was arrested by the Steamboat Springs Police Department on Monday in relation to an incident that occurred July 4.

That afternoon, a clerk at a liquor store reported a drunken man had gone through the store’s drive-through.



According to an arrest affidavit, the clerk told police the man was the least cognitive man he had ever met, and the man could not form a sentence.

“That’s usually a good flag that the person’s too drunk to drive,” the clerk told police.



The man repeatedly said “fast lane” with the Eagles’ song “Life in the Fast Lane” playing on the car radio.

The clerk refused to sell the man alcohol.

Police were given the car’s license plate number and found the car belonged to Autry, according to the affidavit.

Police went to Autry’s home and contacted him as he was getting out of his car.

According to the affidavit, police could smell alcohol, and Autry’s speech was slurred and mumbled.

Autry refused to do roadside sobriety tests.

According to the affidavit, police told Autry he was under arrest, but Autry went into his home and closed the door. Police later got a judge to sign off on an arrest warrant. In addition to DUI, Autry was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer.

A judge advised Autry of his rights Tuesday and set his bond at $2,000.

According to court records, Autry has been arrested three previous times for DUI-related charges.

In 2004, Autry pleaded guilty to DUI and was sentenced to 20 days in jail.

Also in 2004, Autry was sentenced to 60 days in jail for DUI.

In 2009, a jury found Autry guilty of driving while ability impaired, and he was sentenced to six days in jail.

Last summer, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a new law that made it a felony to have more than three DUI-related convictions. The Denver Post reported that Hickenlooper made the bill a priority after five years of state legislators failing to pass a felony DUI bill.

Those convicted of the Class 4 felony face a sentence of two to six years in prison.

According to the Denver Post, only a fraction of offenders are likely to get prison time.

The bill was expected to cost $20 million in the first three years for increased expenses in the judicial and prison systems.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland


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