Man given probation on OWI charges, prison sentences stayed

A Sarona man who was driving under the influence with a 3-year-old child in a vehicle that was involved in a crash was sentenced on Monday to probation and jail time, but if he violates terms he will go to prison.

Anthony J. Schaffner, 33, pleaded guilty in a case filed on Aug. 7 to a felony charge of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and misdemeanor first-offense OWI with a passenger younger than 16. A count of neglecting a child was dismissed, while operating w/PAC with a passenger younger than 16 and three bail jumping charges were dismissed but read into the record.

The defendant also faced charges filed on Nov. 13 of felony bail jumping and the following misdemeanors: second-offense operating while under the influence, and three counts of bail jumping. Also filed was a forfeiture count of operating w/PAC.

In this case, Schaffner pleaded guilty to the felony bail jumping and second-offense OWI counts. The others were dismissed but read into the record.

Two felony charges of bail jumping filed on Feb. 12 were dismissed but read into the record.

Judge Maureen D. Boyle imposed and then stayed a five-year prison sentence, with two years to be spent in confinement and three on extended supervision, on the count of second-degree recklessly endangering safety.

Schaffner was given a year of conditional jail time with work release to be served consecutively with jail sentences imposed for first-offense OWI with a passenger younger than 16 and second-offense OWI.

Boyle also imposed and stayed a four-year prison sentence, with two years of confinement followed by two years on extended supervision, on the bail jumping conviction. Probation was imposed.

Conditions of probation include that Schaffner maintain absolute sobriety.