West Liberty man accused of abusing roommate’s cat charged with OWI, cocaine possession

IOWA CITY - A West Liberty man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to abusing and torturing his roommate's cat has now been charged with driving under the influence and possession of cocaine.

According to police complaints, 21-year-old Leo A. Nopoulos was pulled over by police near the intersection of Dubuque and Burlington streets at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday for a faulty headlight.

Upon contact with Nopoulos, the officer noticed the smell of alcohol and the driver's bloodshot, watery eyes, according to police.

Nopoulos failed to provide a preliminary breath test and, after being transported to the Johnson County Jail, an officer found a folded $20 bill in his wallet that contained .2 grams of a white substance consistent with cocaine, police say.

Nopoulos confirmed the substance to be cocaine and said he has an ongoing drug problem, according to police.

Police say a datamaster test showed Nopoulos had a blood alcohol content of .123.

Nopoulos was released from jail later that morning. He has been charged with driving while under the influence and possession of a controlled substance, both serious misdemeanors.

Earlier this year, Nopoulos pleaded guilty to torturing his roommate's cat in 2014.

The roommate, Nathan Schloss, provided police with video evidence of Nopoulos abusing Schloss' pet cat last year. In the process, Schloss unwittingly provided evidence to police of himself allegedly sexually assaulting multiple intoxicated and incapacitated women.

Schloss has pleaded not guilty to the 40 charges he faces.