STEVENS POINT -- A 36-year-old Rosholt man pleaded guilty Friday to his eighth operating while intoxicated offense.

Kevin Lacourse is in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 8.

Portage County Assistant District Attorney David Knaapen said the state is recommending five years in prison and five years of extended supervision.

Police say Lacourse committed his eighth operating while intoxicated offense in April. He was sentenced to three years in prison and three years of extended supervision in June for his seventh OWI, stemming from an October 2004 offense. He had been on supervision for his seventh offense at the time of his arrest in April, but his probation then was revoked and he was subject to greater penalties for the seventh OWI.

According to court records, for the eighth offense, at 12:12 a.m. April 10, officers were westbound in the 1800 block of Northpoint Drive when they saw Lacourse driving at a high rate of speed. Lacourse then rolled through a stop sign at Northpoint Drive and Michigan Avenue and accelerated quickly, continuing east on Northpoint Drive.

Lacourse continued toward Green Avenue, driving quickly and losing control while negotiating a curve. An officer caught up with Lacourse at the intersection of Green Avenue and Highway 66. When Lacourse went east on Highway 66, the officer followed.

The driver was stopped after continuing under the Interstate 39 overpass and turning into a driveway. When questioned, Lacourse said he did not have a license.

Lacourse had previous OWI convictions in 1991, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001, with one each year and two in 1997.