Randal Joseph Sweeney, 40, of Imperial has been charged with DWI as a chronic offender. Sweeney was on probation for three prior DWI convictions, and he had been convicted of six previous felonies, five of which were alcohol related, court records show.
Sweeney may be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, according to court documents.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on March 26 charged Sweeney for chronic DWI, a class felony C punishable by a minimum of two years in prison. He also was charged with driving with a revoked or suspended license, a class E felony that carries a penalty of up to four years in prison, court records said.
Sweeney, as of Monday, April 14, was being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond at the Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro. He was arrested on April 11, according to court documents.
According to the case’s probable-cause statement, a deputy responded at about 9:15 p.m. March 6 to a single-vehicle accident on Old Hwy. 21 near Hwy. 21 in Imperial. Prior to the accident, the Sheriff’s Office was notified that a man driving a 2013 Ford van appeared to be intoxicated when he left the Gas Mart gas station, 2099 Old Hwy. 21.
Sweeney was in the driver’s seat when the officer arrived at the accident scene. Sweeney allegedly refused to perform field sobriety tests and denied drinking alcohol, the report said.
However, the deputy reported Sweeney appeared intoxicated, fell while getting out of the van and needed assistance to walk. The deputy also allegedly found multiple empty and full alcoholic beverages in the van, according to the report.
Court records show Sweeney was convicted of DWI in September 2016, twice in August 2021 and April 2023 in Jefferson County. He also was convicted in Jefferson County for second-degree assault for DWI resulting in an injury in February 2008 and second-degree domestic assault in February 2014.
Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Maren Biermann is prosecuting the case.