Early Saturday morning, an officer discovered a vehicle near the intersection of Third and Liberty streets with its passenger tire buried in a roadside snow bank.
According to officer notes, upon contact with the driver; 36 year old Rhonda M. Deschamp, signs indicative of impairment were observed about Deschamp’s person as well as the strong odor of intoxicants. The officer also observed four children in the vehicle, ages ranging from 14-16. In speaking with Deschamp, she reportedly told the officer she felt she was doing the right thing by “stopping” at that location to allow her daughter to drive, who had a learners permit. She reportedly admitted to the officer she was in no shape to drive. Deschamp consented to field sobriety testing but became argumentative before testing could be completed, and refused to continue.
Deschamp was subsequently taken into custody on a felony charge of First Offense-Operating Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated w/Passenger under 16 years of age, and transported to Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center for a legal blood draw. Upon arrival, Deschamp refused to allow her blood to be drawn. Due to her charge being a felony, the officer requested a warrant from a Lincoln County Circuit Court judge. The warrant was signed at 3 AM and returned by Judge Robert Russell at which point blood was drawn.
Once cleared for release, Deschamp called for a responsible party for pick-up. Her responsible party arrived a short time later, but registered a .05 blood alcohol reading on a Preliminary Breath Test. The male was found to have a legal restriction of .02. That individual was given a ride home and his vehicle was left at MGSH. Des Champ was taken to the Lincoln County Jail pending location of a sober and responsible party.