GreeneStreets. Feature photo of a back country road in Greene County, Indiana.


Heltonville woman facing felony OVWI charges

A Heltonville woman will be in court later this month on charges of felony OVWI. She’s accused of driving in eastern Greene County with a BAC of .22.

Rebecca Jo Haagsma-Swails

Rebecca Jo Haagsma-Swails

A criminal case was filed against Rebecca Jo Haagsma-Swails, 47, Heltonville, last week and she is scheduled to appear in court for an initial hearing at the end of April.

Haagsma-Swails was arrested by Sgt. Bobby Pierce of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department following a traffic stop around 11:42 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. She was booked into the Greene County Jail around 2:17 a.m. on Friday, March 27.

Haagsma-Swails was the driver of a red 2010 Hyundai Tucson on State Road 45 north of Shady Meadows in eastern Greene County when a witness reported the vehicle was “all over the roadway,” stopping and turning headlights off, and driving with a turn signal on but never turning.

Sgt. Pierce reported Haagsma-Swails exhibited numerous signs of impairment and failed field sobriety testing.

After Haagsma-Swails was transported to the sheriff’s department, a certified chemical test showed she had an alcohol concentration of .22. The legal limit is .08.

Her bond was set at $8,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. She posted $800 and has since been released from jail.

Haagsma-Swails is facing preliminary charges of:

  • Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor,

  • Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor,

  • Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more, a Class A misdemeanor,

  • Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction, a Level 6 felony,

  • Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Level 6 felony, and

  • Operating a vehicle with an ACE of .15 or more with a prior conviction, a Level 6 felony.