March 19, 2024

Jasper County Veterans Affairs Director charged with OWI

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.

Chartier was arrested last November and charged with third-degree harassment. That case has not yet been adjudicated. According to a Newton Police Department report at the time, Chartier had been instructed to stop calling the alleged victim, but did not comply.

At the time, members of the Veterans Affairs Commission said they were informed of the arrest the next morning. When called about this latest arrest, Chartier and the Veterans Affairs Commission declined to comment.