Skip to main content

Connell to serve jail time, but felony kept off record

Lead Summary
By
Lori Sorenson

Charles “Chuck” Connell of Luverne appeared in Rock County District Court Monday morning on charges of criminal vehicular operation — substantial bodily harm — and DWI.
The charges stem from a Sept. 27 crash east of Luverne on County Road 4 in which Connell attempted a left-hand turn in front of an approaching pickup.
Injured in the pickup were then-16-year-old Stephanie Riggs and her passenger, Karissa Hamann, 17. Both girls were wearing their seatbelts and suffered scrapes and bruises. Riggs also had an ankle sprain.
Connell, 57, was airlifted from the scene, and spent some time recovering in a Sioux Falls hospital from his injuries.
Meanwhile, his blood sample was sent to BCA labs in St. Paul to test for blood-alcohol content, and those results on Oct. 23 revealed Connell’s blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was .215, nearly three times the legel driving limit of .08.
Charges were filed on Nov. 5, 2014, of felony criminal vehicular operation, a felony, and gross misdemeanor DWI.
The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, $10,000 fine or both, and the maximum penalty for the gross misdemeanor charge is one year and or $3,000.
 
Jail time, but no felony record
In a plea agreement arranged last week, Connell entered a guilty plea to both charges on a “stay of adjudication.”
This means if he successfully completes probation, only the DWI would remain on his record — not the felony charge of criminal vehicular operation.
In court Monday, Judge Christina Wietzema sentenced Connell to 60 days in jail, staggered. He’ll start the first 30 days now and serve the final 30 days a year from now.
He’ll pay a $1,000 fine and restitution, be on three years of probation and complete a MADD impact panel and chemical dependency assessment.
Connell has one prior DWI, but it’s been roughly 20 years ago.

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.