Oshkosh man sentenced to prison for drunk driving homicide

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric J. Toney announced that Brian A. Sippel was sentenced for a drunk driving homicide, with a .167 BAC, that killed a Waukesha man, Mike Hoffman and seriously injured Mike Hoffman’s wife. The crash occurred at 5:41 p.m. on Saturday January 14, 2023, in the Town of Fond du Lac, on Highway 151 on the overpass above Interstate 41.

The defendant previously plead no contest on January 18, 2024 to Homicide by Intoxicated Use with a Prohibited Alcohol Content While Having a Prior Intoxicated Related Conviction and Injury by Intoxicated Use of a Vehicle. After an emotional three-hour sentencing hearing, Judge Tricia Walker sentenced Brian Sippel to 28 years of initial prison confinement and 15 years of extended supervision.

“The insidious nature of alcoholism and drunk driving destroys good people and devastates families. The defendant had two prior drunk driving convictions and now his third conviction stole the life of a family’s husband, father, son, and friend. There were no winners with today’s sentencing but I hope this sentence serves as a solemn reminder to have a plan for a designated driver, an Uber, a Lyft, or a taxi to ensure you get home safely, as well as those on our roadways,” said Toney.

A Go Fund Me account has been created to help Mike Hoffman’s wife Julie and his son Caleb with college, medical expenses, and day-to-day expenses: http://gofund.me/2e70c0f9

The defendant faced a maximum sentence of 32.5 years of initial confinement and 20 years of extended supervision. The state and victim family requested the court impose 30 years of initial confinement, considering the defendant’s prior drunk driving convictions.

This case was investigated by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by District Attorney Eric Toney. We are grateful for the excellent investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, which allowed for these convictions, and the compassion they demonstrated to the victim family throughout this investigation and prosecution.