Jury finds woman guilty of ‘super drunk driving’

HART — A jury found a 25-year-old Ludington woman guilty of a misdemeanor of operating with a high blood alcohol content (BAC), also called “super drunk driving,” in Oceana County’s 79th District Court Monday, Nov. 25.

Kaytlyn Danielle Bailey is set for sentencing Dec. 17 at 3:30 p.m.

The jury deliberated approximately 30 minutes before returning with its verdict, said Oceana County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Harrington. The verdict was read around 6:15 p.m. 

“On July 27, 2023, troopers from Michigan State Police responded to a potential domestic assault at the Rothbury rest area off northbound US 31,” said the assistant prosecutor. “As they spoke with the defendant about what had happened, the troopers had reason to believe the defendant had driven her boyfriend and herself to the rest area from Grand Rapids and had consumed alcohol before doing so. The defendant performed standard field sobriety tests and was arrested based on her performance and the troopers’ observations. The defendant was taken for a blood draw and the blood was sent to the Michigan State Crime Lab for testing. The testing revealed a blood alcohol content of .18. A conviction for operating with a high blood alcohol content requires a blood alcohol content of at least .17,” said Harrington.

“The main defense offered was the defendant’s boyfriend was the one who drove the car to the rest area — not the defendant. The evidence offered to counter this was that the defendant testified to being 5’2″ in height and her boyfriend testified to being 5’10”. Once the defendant was arrested, the troopers were given permission to move the defendant’s car into a parking spot. When the troopers looked inside the vehicle, they noticed the driver’s seat was pushed almost all the way up. The trooper who moved the car testified to being 5’11”. When the trooper’s body camera footage was played, you could hear him make an audible groaning noise when he got into the car. The evidence also showed that the defendant’s boyfriend was wearing a leg brace that night and was still recovering from an injury,” said Harrington.

“We would like to extend our thanks to Trooper Benjamin Stadler, Trooper Jennifer Alway, Trooper Mitchell Stevens, and Trooper Lucas Marston of the Michigan State Police, Hart post, as well as all the others who sacrificed their time to show up to testify. We would also like to thank the court and its staff in making sure this case was completed within one day. The court schedule is very tight, and having a trial unexpectedly go into a second day really upsets the schedule.”

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