Jasper County Veterans Affairs Director Christopher A. Chartier, 30, of Newton was charged with OWI, first offense, after police found him asleep in a car Friday morning with a blood-alcohol content of more than twice the legal limit.

Newton Police responded to a call to the 600 block of First Avenue East at approximately 2:43 a.m. Friday. When they arrived, they found Chartier asleep inside the vehicle, which was parked in the front yard with its engine running.

In their report, officers stated Chartier had bloodshot eyes and an odor of alcohol about him. He failed a field sobriety test and was taken into custody. A Datamaster breath test recorded a blood-alcohol content of 0.168 percent. He was later released to appear in court on the charge of OWI, first offense, which is a serious misdemeanor.