CEO of McLaren Thumb Region and McLaren Caro Region, Connie Koutouzos, pleaded not guilty yesterday to one count of operating while intoxicated, third offense.
Her attorney, Scott Bigger, entered the plea on his client’s behalf in Huron County’s 52nd Circuit Court on Monday, with Judge Gerald M. Prill scheduling pretrial proceedings on January 9 of next year, with the trial following on January 31, 2023. There had been a plea offered in the case, but there has been no agreement made yet.
The charge stems from a March 8 incident, when Huron County Sheriff deputies found her asleep in her car on Sebewaing Road in Sheridan Township. According to information obtained the Huron Daily Tribune, there was property damage caused by Koutouzos, though it is not clear what the damage was. Koutouzos, whose blood alcohol content was 0.08% at the time, had two prior drunk driving convictions, one from 2017 and the other from 2019, from when she was CEO at an Upper Peninsula hospital. On top of that, when she was arrested, her license was invalid due to her past suspensions.
Due to this being a third offense, Koutouzos faces the charge as a felony, which could result in probation (with a month up to a year’s worth of jail time, with community service), rehabilitation via a program, or jail time to the tune of one to five years.
It is unclear if McLaren knew about the prior convictions and arrests. John Hunt, McLaren Thumb Region Board of Directors’ chairman, noted that Koutouzos told them of the charge and that they are keeping an eye on the proceedings, but could not comment more.
