Wausau Man Scheduled for Plea and Sentencing in Two Weeks for OWI and Theft

Thursday, January 4th, 2024 -- 2:00 PM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) A Wausau man facing three counts of OWI and multiple retail theft charges is scheduled for a plea and sentencing hearing in two weeks.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, Mark Bryant Calmes is scheduled to return to court on the counts on Wednesday, January 17th. Many of the charges are Class A misdemeanors which carry a maximum penalty of nine months in jail with the possibility of work-release privileges and up to $10,000 in fines.

Investigators say the 37-year-old had two children, ages five and eight, in the vehicle with him when he was pulled over for his most recent OWI charge last August. That stop was conducted by a State Patrol officer and started as a littering violation.

While interacting with Calmes, the officer noticed signs of impairment. He failed a standard field sobriety test and was arrested. The children were released to a responsible party. Court records show Calmes had two additional OWI cases in progress at that time, one from May and one from June.

The hearing will cover eight open cases. All three of the OWI counts are labeled as first offense because none of the cases have been closed. The three counts of retail theft are for taking items valued at less than $500.

A misdemeanor count of child neglect and multiple counts of bail jumping are also on the ledger. Calmes has been out on a $500 cash bond with several conditions including absolute sobriety and no contact with Wagner Shell.

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