Taos man charged with 8th DWI

Pulled over for failing to use traffic signal

New Mexico State Police charged Pete Pedroncelli, 60, of Taos with aggravated DWI Sunday night (Sept. 11) after pulling him over for allegedly failing to use a traffic signal.

According to court records, Pedroncelli has been convicted of DWI seven times previously. If convicted an eighth time, he could face between 10-12 years in prison, according to endwi.com.

A press release from state police issued Friday (Sept. 16) says that a state police officer could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from Pedroncelli’s breath after pulling him over on Tewa street just before 10 p.m. After conducting field sobriety testing, the officer said in the complaint that the 60-year-old refused to provide a breath sample. State police obtained a search warrant to test Pedroncelli’s blood, but court records on Friday did not specify Pedroncelli’s blood-alcohol level.

Since Pedroncelli was accused of refusing testing, he was charged with aggravated DWI, a special second-degree felony. In New Mexico, first, second and third DWIs are charged as misdemeanors, but a fourth or subsequent charge for DWI is charged as a felony.