Marshall Democrat-News: Local News: Marshall woman in custody for multiple offenses (11/16/09)

Chelsey A. Roettgen, 20, of Marshall, is in custody at Saline County Justice Facility, charged with class B misdemeanor drug intoxication, class A misdemeanor operating a vehicle without a valid license and the unclassified misdemeanor of purchase or attempting to purchase or possession liquor by a minor.

According to an incident report filed with the probable cause statement, Roettgen was pursued by Marshall police Thursday, Nov. 12, at speeds up to 60 miles per hour on several city streets before she was stopped.

The report says Roettgen told officers she did not have a driver's license and had never had one; a MULES inquiry confirmed that fact.

A blood alcohol test showed a level of intoxication "not consistent with her performance on field sobriety tests," the report says. According to the report, under questioning by officers, Roettgen said she had been a drug user for "about six years" and regularly injects herself with Oxycontin.

Roettgen is scheduled to appear before Judge James T. "Tut" Bellamy Wednesday, Nov. 18; if she is convicted, she faces six months in county jail and/or a $500 fine on each of the misdemeanor charges. If she is convicted of the attempt to purchase liquor, she could spend up to a year in county jail and pay a fine of up to $1,000. In addition, under the "Missouri Abuse and Lose" statute, she could lose her driving privileges for a period of 90 days.

Charges contained in reports provided by law enforcement officials are not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting charges must be presented before a jury, whose duty is to determine if the accused is guilty or not guilty of the charges.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net

I FOR ONE KNOW THE YOUNG LADY SHOULD BE HELPED WITH HER ADDICTION.I KNEW THE FAMILY AND I KNEW CHELSEY,I HAVE NOT SEEN HER SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL BUT I DO KNOW SHE HAD A ROUGH LIFE AND SHE NEED,S LOT,S OF HELP.I DO HOPE SHE GET,S IT SHE HAS HER WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF HER.

-- Posted by karenmorrison22 on Tue, Nov 17, 2009, at 12:50 PM

I am glad no one was hurt. I hope this young lady gets the help she needs!

-- Posted by marshallmom79 on Mon, Nov 16, 2009, at 4:00 PM

to you (ray) i totally agree, how can you lose what you never had, 60 miles an hour on city streets, thank God no child was hurt or killed.

-- Posted by yank on Mon, Nov 16, 2009, at 3:58 PM

I hope by admitting that she has been a drug user for almost 6 years this young lady will be ready to get the rehab help she so desperately needs.

-- Posted by long time citizen on Mon, Nov 16, 2009, at 3:07 PM

To "Somewhere Out There": I totally agree with your observations, with one exception. The message should be directed to the Prosecutor, who will undoubtedly make the plea offer in the case, and not to the Judge.

-- Posted by OldOwl on Mon, Nov 16, 2009, at 1:34 PM

What driving privileges did she have if she didn't have a driver's license? What driving privileges does she have that she could lose? Logic would seem to conclude that you can't lose what you don't have.

Not to belabor the point, but I believe driving without a driver's license is still illegal in Missouri so what deterrent would a "loss of driving privileges" be to some one who appears to have ignored the law requiring a driver's license before driving?

-- Posted by Ray on Mon, Nov 16, 2009, at 1:25 PM

Dear Tut...don't miss! The accused is the staggering one, no excuse for not putting this person away. 60mph in the city? Thankfully no one got hurt. Drugs, alcohol, excessive speeds on city streets, no license: these are the making sof a COPS video; how often do you feel sorry for those people?

Kudos to the officers involved. Any idea how she was stopped?

-- Posted by somewhere out there on Mon, Nov 16, 2009, at 1:01 PM