Gov. Butch Otter on Thursday ended his business relationship with a well-traveled GOP campaign consultant after the man was arrested for violating his probation for felony DUI.

Jason Lehosit, 33, was arrested Wednesday on charges of violating the terms of probation he received after his fourth DUI. That conviction, in 2005, cost Lehosit his job as Otter's campaign manager for the 2006 campaign.

But Lehosit, an expert on direct mail, recovered. He established a popular consulting firm, Meridian Resources, first with a partner in California. Just last week, Lehosit took over as a sole proprietor, according to Tom Rose, a former business associate in Sacramento.

Since 2008, Lehosit's firm has been paid more than $200,000 by Idaho candidates, with Otter as his most important client. Otter paid Meridian Resources about $75,000 through June 2009. Among Lehosit's clients for the 2010 campaign are Lt. Gov. Brad Little and 1st District congressional hopeful Vaughn Ward.

About 24 hours after Lehosit's arrest, an Otter spokeswoman said the campaign was severing its ties with Lehosit. "In light of these unfortunate circumstances, the Otter for Idaho campaign is ending its relationship with Meridian Resources," wrote Brenda Maynard Walters, Otter's director of field operations, in an e-mail.

Lehosit is alleged to have obtained a driver's license without permission, driven without privileges and consumed alcohol, according to Department of Correction records.

Lehosit remained in Ada County Jail on Thursday. The Department of Correction will recommend to a judge that Lehosit be given seven days "discretionary" jail time, said spokesman Jeff Ray. The state will also recommend a treatment plan. Ray said seven jail days is standard for violations similar to Lehosit's.

The arrest came after Lehosit admitted, for the third time since January, that he'd been drinking in violation of his five-year probation, according to the affidavit filed by Probation Officer Rick Severson. According to the affidavit:

• On Jan. 13, Lehosit admitted to "occasional drinking and to driving to his appointment with his probation officer while having a suspended license."

• On May 21, Lehosit "was seen drinking and admitted to drinking alcohol."

• On Wednesday, Lehosit "admitted drinking at least four to five times a month since July of 2009."

Lehosit is respected in GOP circles for his fundraising talent. In 2007 and 2008, he raised money for the Idaho Meth Project, an anti-drug campaign championed by first lady Lori Otter.

He also worked on the 2007 Community College Yes campaign, which cleared the way for the establishment of the College of Western Idaho. In 2006, he was a campaign consultant for former Idaho Controller Keith Johnson's campaign for Congress.

Lehosit resigned from the Otter campaign after his 2005 arrest in Downtown Boise, when his blood-alcohol level was registered at 0.20 percent, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent. In January 2006, 4th District Judge Thomas Neville sentenced Lehosit to five years in prison, but suspended the sentence, ordering 120 days in jail and probation.

While barred from consuming alcohol for five years, Lehosit is allowed to be in bars for work purposes. He was ordered to attend four Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a week for five years and prohibited from obtaining a driver's license for at least three years.

In 2008, Lehosit asked Neville to allow him to drive sooner because it was a personal and professional hardship. "I am proud to say that I am a completely different person three years after my arrest," Lehosit wrote.

But Neville denied Lehosit's request and reminded him that his license was suspended for a minimum of three years, until at least March 15, 2009, and could be reinstated only with the permission of his probation officer. It wasn't clear Thursday whether Lehosit had sought the officer's permission when the three years were up, but Lehosit apparently obtained a license without it.

Dan Popkey: 377-6438