MASON CITY – A Newman High School golf coach was arrested for drunk driving and carrying a dangerous weapon and given a lenient sentence.
A Cerro Gordo county deputy performed a traffic stop on December 31, 2015 at about 8:15 PM near the 14000 block of Partridge Avenue (Highway 65, south of the Avenue of the Saints). As a result of the stop and ensuing investigation, the driver, 48-year-old Curt Isham Bonzer of Mason City, was arrested for first offense operating while intoxicated and unsafe approach to stationary vehicles.
A .223 rifle was also found during the investigation. Because he was intoxicated, Bonzer was also charged with carrying a dangerous weapon.
“If you are intoxicated and have a firearm (it does not matter what kind of firearm you have)…your carry permit is not valid,” Sheriff Kevin Pals told NIT.
Bonzer is a golf, track and cross country coach at Newman High School in Mason City. He was booked into the jail and later released pending a court date.
On January 25, Bonzer and his attorney, Joel Yunek, entered a guilty plea to first offense operating under the influence. The charge of carrying a dangerous weapon was reduced to manner of conveyance of a loaded gun.
Bonzer was given a deferred judgement and sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to pay $1,431.00 in fines and court fees.
