Photo courtesy of Ozark County Times
A Taney County woman has been convicted of drunken driving following an incident in which she attempted to flee from an Ozark County deputy on an all-terrain vehicle with a 30-pack of beer strapped to the front rack. According to the Ozark County Times, Circuit Judge Craig Carter found 35-year-old Summer Loberg of Cedar Creek guilty October 30th of driving while intoxicated, aggravated offender.
Deputy Curtis Dobbs testified he observed a red ATV pass by his vehicle March 4th of last year at a high rate of speed. Dobbs says he followed the ATV with his lights flashing, but the driver, identified as Loberg, did not immediately pull over. She swerved into the opposite lane of traffic and passed another vehicle while fleeing the officer. She pulled over to the shoulder of the road and dismounted after traveling about 3/4 of a mile.
Dobbs alleges the woman was unsteady on her feet, and her breath smelled of intoxicants. Loberg reportedly refused to complete a field sobriety test. Dobbs says he also observed the partially-consumed 30-pack of beer strapped to the ATV. Loberg was placed under arrest and reportedly admitted to drinking. She was transported to the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department where she refused to submit to a breathalyzer test.
Loberg’s defense attorney, James Burke James of Springfield, said in the trial’s closing arguments the state failed to prove Loberg was intoxicated beyond a reasonable doubt since no field sobriety tests were administered. Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant represented the state of Missouri and argued any lack of evidence was Loberg’s fault since she refused to submit to the tests requested.
Judge Carter has ordered the Board of Probation and Parole to prepare a sentencing advisory report. Loberg remains free on bond until her sentencing hearing scheduled for January 6th.
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