A 29-year-old Farmington man was recently sentenced to one and a half years in jail in connection with a drunk-driving accident on Christmas Eve 2009 which killed an 88-year-old Prior Lake man, and caused his wife to suffer a traumatic brain injury, memory and hearing loss, broken ribs and head lacerations.

Sentencing reportedly took place on Wednesday in Dakota County District Court. In addition to prison time, the man will be required to go through 10 years of probation and 30 hours of community service each year speaking on drunk-driving panels. He will also be required to be on electronic home monitoring for 30 days each year.

The accident took place in Lakeville as the victims were driving to a Christmas dinner with family. The Farmington man was driving with his three children in the vehicle at the time. The elderly gentleman died the next day of injuries sustained in the accident.

Blood alcohol testing revealed that the Farmington man was over twice the legal limit, and a trial resulted in a conviction on felony charges of criminal vehicular operation and injury and gross misdemeanor charges of child endangerment and third-degree DWI.

Prosecutors initially asked for a five-year prison sentence in accordance with state sentencing guidelines. The judge in the case decided against it, however, as the man was remorseful and had been sober since the accident.

Drunk-driving accidents can be devastating, but criminal charges can also take their toll. Those charged with drunk-driving related crimes do well to contact an attorney who will protect their rights and assist them in minimizing the consequences of such charges.

Source: Pioneer Press, "Farmington man gets jail, probation for deadly DWI crash on Christmas Eve 2009," Maricella Miranda, February 16, 2012.