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.
Average guy, this is in response to your comment, regardless if any of us have ever made a mistake or not, mr.bonser is in a position of trust and authority therefore he has standards to uphold to his students and the general public, he certainly didn’t uphold his obligation.
Damn he used to be my gym teacher that’s crazy to see him on here and getting a light sentence
..another example of how corrupt our local courts are…anybody else would of had twice the penalty….
Extremely easy sentence.. i know of misdemeanors that got two years of probation or more..who’s who again
First offense, happened to have a long rifle in the truck, I’d say he made a mistake and is paying the price. All you armchair attorneys, I’m sure you’re above reproach and have never made an error in judgement. I’m sure he does just fine at his job or he wouldn’t have it.
“error in judgement” yep drunk with a LOADED gun is exactly that…and more.. these local judges are known for picking on cases or certain people and letting others off with slap on the hand…corrupt.
What makes a .223 rifle dangerous. I didn’t know that you had to have a (carry permit) to have a rifle in your vehicle, when did that law change. And, was the rifle actually loaded, if it was, why wasn’t it stated by the arresting officer during the initial investigation.
Like most pubic servants go out of town to drink and take the back roads home -always have -always will. Except for bookie I heard -gets too many free drinks locally – more power to him.
Welcome to the world of disparity and unequal treatment under the law. For these offenses by all rights from a Catholic school he should be fired. I don’t know this man personally, I’m saying this by his offenses and position in private religious school. Carrying a loaded .223 rifle in his car while drunk is not someone who should be coaching youth, at least not for 5 years or more. Nice touch Yunek getting him the deferred judgment which will erase it in a year. I wonder if this guy is related to Ron Minert?
..these local authorities and judges are suppose to be non bias..but they aren’t’, they are the problem.
omg just what we need… a gun toting Arnold palmer