Marathon County Man Facing his 6th OWI Charge Appears in Court

Thursday, August 21st, 2025 -- 2:00 PM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) A Marathon County man facing his 6th OWI appeared in Marathon County Court on Wednesday.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, officers responded to a report of a driver going slowly on Highway 97, at the end of July, occasionally stopping and driving into oncoming traffic.

When officers caught up to him, he was pulled over to the side of the road. The driver, identified as Joseph D. Wirkus, was found slumped over the steering wheel.

Officers said he had glassy eyes and the vehicle reeked of alcohol. He was arrested and taken for a blood draw before being booked into the Marathon County Jail.

During his court appearance on Wednesday, he waived his preliminary hearing. During his arraignment, he entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him.

He’s scheduled to be back in court on September 3rd.

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