Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Trouble with alcohol has led to a six-month jail sentence for a 21-year-old Oak Creek man who wrecked a vehicle into a home last summer in an alcohol-related accident.

On Friday morning, Brandon Michael Haire was sentenced to the jail term by 14th Judicial District Judge Joel S. Thompson.

Haire was also placed on three years of supervised probation for an unrelated charge providing false information to a pawnbroker, a class five felony.

Thompson said the jail time was necessary because this is Haire's second drunken-driving conviction since 1999.

"You continue to use alcohol and commit criminal offenses," Thompson said. "I think it is necessary and an important part of your rehabilitation to spend a substantial time in jail."

In January, Haire pleaded guilty to the drunken-driving charge for wrecking a vehicle into a home in Stagecoach the evening of Aug. 28. Haire, who was extremely intoxicated at the time, then threatened a family in the 31000 block of Fallen Falcon Trail by brandishing a gun, court records show.

Haire was taken to the ground by bystanders and held until Routt County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene.

Initially, Haire was charged with four counts of felony menacing, but Deputy District Attorney David Moffat agreed to dismiss the felony charges because of a plea agreement. Moffat argued for Thompson to sentence the man to at least 90 days in jail.

Haire and his court-appointed attorney, William Schurman, pleaded with Thompson for leniency.

"I am sorry for what has happened," Haire said. "I'm glad it happened. It has helped me straighten out my life. I want to get to work and start out on the right foot."

Schurman argued against a jail sentence because his client has a job waiting for him in the Meeker area working in oil fields.

Haire pleaded guilty to the felony for selling a rifle to a Steamboat Springs pawnshop Aug. 24. The rifle belonged to an acquaintance of Haire's who had left the firearm at Haire's residence.

When selling the rifle, Haire provided false information on a pawn slip. On the slip, he claimed the rifle, which is worth $225, belonged to him.

For this charge, Haire was placed on three years of supervised probation, which will start once the man has completed his jail sentence.

Because of the felony conviction, Haire will also not be allowed to possess a gun.

"I love to hunt," Haire said. "I will never be able to do that again."

Haire must report to the Routt County Jail by 1 p.m. Monday. Thompson gave the man time to move out of his Oak Creek residence.

"I suspect this six months in jail will be the longest time of sobriety you have had in a long time," Thompson said.