Judge imprisons Minneapolis man for latest in stunning number of drunk driving convictions

A Twin Cities man with a stunning number of drunken driving convictions was sent to prison Thursday for another offense last New Year’s Eve, bringing the total to 22.

Michael James Bowser, 70, of Minneapolis was sentenced by Hennepin County District Judge Hilary Caligiuri to a 7½-year prison term after he was found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol and fleeing police on Dec. 31 in Brooklyn Center. It was his 22nd conviction, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

With credit for time in jail since his arrest, Bowser is expected to serve about 4½ years in prison and the balance on supervised release.

Bowser is still short of being the most prolific when it comes to getting caught driving drunk in Minnesota. In 2018, Danny Lee Bettcher already had a state record at the time of 27 drunken driving arrests when he was convicted in Otter Tail County with yet another DWI.

Bowser has been getting caught drinking and driving in Minnesota for roughly a quarter-century, according to court records.

“Mr. Bowser’s sentence reflects the danger he poses on our roads, and the community will be protected from him,” read a statement from Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. “We are grateful his conduct has not resulted in the loss of life.”

According to the latest charges:

The sheriff’s sergeant checked on the status of Bowser’s driver’s license and learned it had been canceled out of concern for public safety.

Told he was under arrest, Bowser drove off at speeds of 70 to 80 mph until he quickly crashed. He kept up his flight — this time on foot — but was soon captured.

According to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, there have been more than 145,000 instances of drunken-driving in Minnesota since 2020.