MASON CITY – The wheels of justice continue to grind forward in Cerro Gordo county as a Clear Lake man who led Mason City police on a dangerous chase throughout the city was allowed to plead down from a felony eluding charge to a serious misdemeanor this week in district court.
On October 7th, 2012, Mason City police attempted to stop Robert Troy Knutson, 48, on suspicion of drunk driving.
According to police, Knutson fled police multiple times, refused to stop, and traveled the wrong way on highways and turned off his headlights. Due to the extreme danger of the pursuit, officers discontinued the chase of Knutson.
Knutson was eventually arrested and charged with felony eluding and OWI second offense.
At Knutson’s trial on January 10th, Judge Gregg Rosenbladt accepted a negotiated plea from the defendant where Knutson pled guilty to serious misdemeanor eluding and operating while intoxicated 1st offense.
Rosenbladt sentenced Knutson to probation and suspended 351 days of a 365 day jail sentence in the eluding charge to run concurrently with 14 days in jail for the operating while intoxicated guilty plea. Rosenbladt also suspended a $625 fine for the eluding. The $1250 fine for the OWI guilty plea stood. He owes a total of $1997.50 in fines and court costs.
Knutson is currently serving his sentence in the Cerro Gordo County Jail, where he reported Friday.
SERVING SENTENCE
If the man was drunk how can you expect him to remember how to turn on the headlights on his vehicle? Also if he was drunk I can see where turning the wrong way on a street can happen. You can’t fault the judge for recognizing that a man who might have a had a glass or two of wine fell victim to the alcohol in this case. Judge Roenbladt was right in seeing a good and decent person was victimized by alcohol and shouldn’t be held accountable to the full extent of the law.
Score another victory for the criminals. Put people’s lives in danger, it don’t matter around here, no consequence.