Anyone glancing at the Scioto County Jail log this weekend might have thought Portsmouth was suddenly overrun with drunk drivers. One after another, names popped up tied to operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI) charges.
But dig a little deeper and the story looks a lot different. Most of these individuals weren’t arrested after a night of bad decisions — they were showing up to serve sentences from earlier cases. In fact, for many of them, the actual jail time amounts to just a few days.
Friday, September 12
- Robert Hawkins – OVI Refusal
Convicted in August for an April incident. Sentenced to 30 days in jail with 20 suspended and a two-year license suspension. Hawkins delayed starting his sentence until Sept. 12. He was also arrested last year for driving with a suspended license.
- Brittany Hopkins – Physical Control While Under the Influence
Pleaded no contest to an April 1 charge. Sentenced to probation and community service. Jail time was suspended if she met those conditions.
- Isaac Peed – Physical Control While Under the Influence
Arrested in February, pleaded no contest in August. Sentenced to 180 days in jail with 170 suspended, plus a one-year license suspension and three years’ probation. He also has a 2018 OVI conviction.
- Jared Sharp – Physical Control While Under the Influence
Arrested in July, pleaded no contest Sept. 10. Sentenced to three years’ probation, 90 days in jail with 87 suspended, and a one-year license suspension. Sharp’s history includes multiple convictions for driving on a suspended license and a texting-while-driving violation this year.
Saturday, September 13
- Michael Bobst – Physical Control While Under the Influence
The lone fresh booking of the weekend. Bobst’s record includes OVI charges in Pike County in 2007 and 2010. More recently, he faced charges of hit/skip, driving without a license, and failure to control.
OVI Penalties in Ohio
In Ohio, penalties for OVI can be stiff — even for a first offense. They typically include at least three days in jail or a driver intervention program, hundreds of dollars in fines, and a license suspension of six months to three years. Repeat offenders face harsher consequences, such as longer suspensions, ignition interlock requirements, vehicle forfeiture, and mandatory jail time. Judges also have discretion to suspend much of a sentence, provided the offender stays sober and avoids new violations.
