Published: May 29, 2009 06:50 am      

Man allegedly drove under influence

TRAVERSE CITY -- A Traverse City man faces felony drunken driving charges after three previous convictions.

Ernest Frederick Bellant, 41, is charged with three criminal counts for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol on May 17 on U.S. 31 South in Grand Traverse County's Garfield Township. He has drunken driving convictions from September 1990 and March 1992 in Cheboygan, and from October 1992 in Traverse City, court records show.

Bellant also is charged with a misdemeanor, failure to stop after a collision, and as a habitual offender following a domestic violence conviction from December 2004. He could face 15 years to life in prison, if convicted.

Bellant is set to appear in 86th District Court in Traverse City on June 5 for a preliminary examination before Judge Thomas Phillips.