Man pleads not guilty to drug charges, OWI

A former Rice Lake man accused of possessing narcotic drugs and driving drunk with his 4-year-old children in his vehicle has pleaded not guilty to all charges related to the case.

Austin A. Eggert, 24, now of Weyerhaeuser, was charged on May 3 with a felony count of possession of narcotic drugs plus six misdemeanors: possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, resisting or obstructing an officer and operating while intoxicated with a passenger younger than 16.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday in Barron County Circuit Court, and a plea hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 29. His $2,500 signature bond continues.

Eggert is facing a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and 3½ years in prison if convicted on the felony.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called to a Cameron apartment building for a disturbance and found the defendant and two 4-year-olds in his vehicle.

Eggert said he had marijuana and a pipe in his pants pocket, and had smoked the weed that was in his pocket approximately four hours earlier. Eggert also said he drank alcohol approximately 30 minutes earlier.

The defendant said there might be fentanyl in the vehicle, and that the weed from his pocket would test positive for fentanyl.

Eggert was placed under arrest for OWI and blew a 0.149 on the breathalyzer at the Barron County Jail.