A 47-year-old woman was recently sentenced to one year in prison for an alcohol-related car accident. Unfortunately, this is the woman’s second DWI offense, and as a result she faced increased penalties for the charges against her.
The accident occurred in 2010 at the Steamboat Days celebration in Carver, Minnesota. The woman was accused of speeding and crashing into two people in a golf cart. The 39-year-old driver of the golf was the then Carver mayoral candidate. Apparently, both the driver of the golf cart and his 73-year-old passenger sustained injuries from the impact of the crash.
The driver was suspected of drunk driving and took a breathalyzer test. The results of that test showed that her blood alcohol content was .25.
The Minnesota woman pled guilty to criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm, a felony. She also pled guilty to misdemeanor charges related to the injuries sustained by the passenger in the golf cart.
In Minnesota, the maximum jail sentence for second offense DWI is one year. In addition to her one year jail sentence, the woman will also:
· Be placed on probation for five years
· Be required to perform 200 hours of community service
· Be required to attend a Mother’s Against Drunk Driving class each year
· Be prohibited from using drugs or alcohol
· Be required to submit to random testing
There are many reasons why a defendant would plead guilty to DWI charges. Any time a person is charged with drunk driving, it is important to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney. If you or someone you know has been charged with a DWI offense, it is very important to get help to defend against those charges as soon as possible.
Source: Chanhassen Villager, “Drunken driver sentenced in crash that injured Carver mayor,” 20 June 2011
