Watson

ELKINS — An 18-year-old Randolph County man was arrested after police allegedly found him intoxicated in a vehicle with a 14-year-old passenger.

Zachary Alan Watson, 18, of Huttonsville, is charged with one count of DUI with a minor, one count of expired operators and one count of open container, all misdemeanors. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $1,000 cash-only bond.

The criminal complaint, filed by Trooper H.J. Bonetti of the West Virginia State Police, states that on Saturday, Bonetti was dispatched by Randolph County 911 to a possible drunk driver situation in the Elkins McDonald’s parking lot.

When Bonetti arrived on the scene, he observed the vehicle and performed a traffic stop, the complaint states. Bonetti made contact with Watson and requested his operator’s license, which Watson provided. Watson’s operator’s license allegedly expired on Oct. 10, 2025.

Bonetti allegedly observed Watson to have “bloodshot watery eyes” and he could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Watson’s breath, the complaint states. He then asked Watson to step out of the vehicle.

During a standardized field sobriety test, Watson allegedly exhibited signs of impairment on the “Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus,” “Walk and Turn” and “One Leg Stand” tests, the complaint states. During a preliminary breath test, Watson reportedly had a Blood Alcohol Count (BAC) of 0.095.

After explaining implied consent to Watson, Bonetti requested a second chemical breath test, the Intox EC/IR-II, the complaint states. Watson reportedly consented to the test and provided a sample with a BAC of 0.079.

Bonetti observed a 14-year-old passenger in the vehicle, the complaint states. He also observed an open “Twisted Tea” in the back seat of the vehicle.