Hennepin Co. Sheriff David Hutchinson Pleads Guilty to DUI Charge
Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor DUI charge on Thursday morning, stemming from a rollover crash on December 8th near Alexandria, Minnesota.
Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson
Hutchinson was leaving a Minnesota Sheriffs' Association conference at Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center in Alexandria in his county-issued vehicle when he crashed at about 2:30 AM on I-94, a few miles east of Alexandria. Hutchinson was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
In a written statement, Hutchinson said, "I take full responsibility for my actions and am prepared to accept the consequences of my poor decision. I am relieved that no one else was injured in the crash. I will immediately address my personal issues surrounding alcohol and seek the help I need to continue to serve the people of Hennepin County."
On December 10th, the Douglas County attorney filed four misdemeanor charges against Hutchinson. He was charged with one count each of fourth-degree driving while impaired, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 within two hours, and carrying a pistol under the influence of alcohol.
Two additional counts for driving while intoxicated were dismissed, and a misdemeanor charge of carrying a pistol while under the influence was continued for dismissal, which is an agreement to drop the charge at a later date if conditions are met.
An analysis done by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension determined Hutchinson's blood alcohol content to be .13. The legal limit in Minnesota is .08.
After pleading guilty to the charge, Hutchinson said in a written statement, "As Sheriff, I made the wellness of my staff a priority; however, I didn't practice what I preached. This incident is a wake-up call for me. I understand the seriousness of my actions, for which I take full responsibility.
I am now enrolled in an outpatient treatment program to address my issues with alcohol and my overall health. This is the first step in the road toward recovery and regaining the trust of the people I work with and the residents of Hennepin County whom I serve."
The statement reported that Hutchinson has returned to work and is focusing on his duties as Sheriff.
UPDATE: Hutchinson was sentenced Monday, Dec. 20 and received a 90-day stayed jail sentence, two years of probation and a $610 fine. As part of probation, he must complete a chemical assessment, have no alcohol violations, have no driver’s license violations and must abstain from using alcohol or controlled substances.