Man Accused of Trying to Kill Wife Charged Under ‘Super Drunk’ Law

A Canton man faces attempted murder charges after police said he tried to run over his wife with his pickup truck after a domestic quarrel escalated.

James Martin Hoffman, 54, was arraigned Saturday on charges of assault with intent to commit murder, felonious assault with a motor vehicle and a violation of Michigan’s “super drunk” law, the Observer & Eccentric reports. The “super drunk” law, enacted by the state legislature in 2009, carries enhanced penalties for persons convicted of driving with a blood alcohol content of .17 or higher.

Canton Detective Sgt. Chad Baugh said a field sobriety test showed Hoffman’s BAC at .27, more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent.

Police said Hoffman struck his 41-year-old wife with a Ford F-150 pickup outside their condominium development, the Preserve on Fellows Creek, near Palmer and Lotz roads shortly after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25. She escaped serious injury, but the pickup struck a Mustang parked in their garage and pushed it partially into the residence, police said.

Hoffman’s wife is cooperating with police, Baugh told the newspaper.

Hoffman remains in custody on $500,000 cash bond. The charges against him carry penalties of up to life in prison.