Unfortunately, it's a question that we're asking far too often lately.  Namely, why was the drunk out on the streets in the first place?

   According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 47 year old Kendall Ludin was arrested Sunday night on suspicion of his fifth drunk driving offense.

     Ludin's arrest came after a man allegedly hit a vehicle headed eastbound on Highway 60 in Washington County around 10:15 p.m.  According to police, the driver then fled the scene and entered a local tavern where he was refused service (because he was too drunk).  He then allegedly got back into his vehicle, struck a parked pickup truck, left the roadway, drove another 50 feet, struck an apartment building and continued driving until his vehicle entered an apartment.  He then fled the scene on foot.

     The driver of the first vehicle that was hit called my radio program today and described the terror she felt as she was rammed.  It's an absolute miracle that neither she or anybody else on either the road or in the apartment was seriously injured.  However, If it turns out that it was Kendall Ludin behind the wheel and had someone been seriously injured, at least one judge in Washington County would have quite a bit of explaining to do.

     As it is, the entire judicial system still has some explaining to do.

     There are undoubtedly people in the Wisconsin State court system who have more contacts with the criminal courts than Ludin.  Hopefully though, there aren't too many.  Let's review the highlights of his record as reported by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access:

     In February of 1990, Ludin was convicted of disorderly conduct.

     In December of 1990, Ludin was convicted of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

     In January of 1991, Ludin was convicted of escape.

     In April of 1993, Ludin was convicted of possession of marijuana and placed on probation.

     In January of 1995, Ludin was convicted of felony criminal damage to property.  His sentence was stayed.

     In September of 1996, Ludin was convicted of drunken driving.

     In March of 2000, Ludin was convicted of battery with a habitual criminal enhancer.  His prison sentence was again stayed in favor of a few months in the county jail. At the same time, he was also convicted of third offense drunk driving.

     Since then, Ludin has been convicted of fourth offense drunk driving, disorderly conduct, and bail jumping,

     Most recently, in April 0f 2007, Ludin was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  For reasons that pass understanding, Washington County Circuit Judge David Resheske sentenced Ludin to serve 8 months in the county jail with work release privileges.  For the record, the maximum penalty for this offense is up to 10 years in prison.

     I've known Dave Resheske  (pictured below administering the oath of office to Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler) since his days as Washington County District Attorney.  He's a good guy and not a bad judge.  Still, how can anyone justify giving Ludin chance after chance after chance?  At some point in time, don't we have a right to expect judges to say "enough is enough"?

     My guess is that if Ludin is ultimately found guilty of anything connected with Sunday night's mayhem, he'll probably find himself out of circulation for quite a while.  The problem though is that it shouldn't have come to this.

     Probation.  Probation.  Sentence imposed and stayed.  County jail time with work release.  No wonder criminals don't change their ways?

     When will the judges around Southeastern Wisconsin stop hugging thugs?

     And why in the world did Judge Resheske let the Washington County drunk out on the streets in the first place?