State v. Boecker

In 2015, Appellant was charged with two counts of first-degree driving while impaired (DWI). Appellant contested the use of his 1998 conviction for criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm to enhance his 2015 DWI charge to a first-degree offense. The district court found sufficient probable cause for enhancement. Thereafter, Appellant pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree driving while impaired. Appellant appealed, arguing that he was entitled to withdraw his plea because his 1998 conviction was not included in the list of predicate felonies in Minn. Stat. 169A.24 that enhance a DWI charge to a first-degree DWI. The court of appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) a criminal vehicular operation conviction from a year not specifically listed in the current version of the first-degree DWI statute can be used to enhance a DWI charge to a first-degree offense; and (2) accordingly, Appellant’s plea was established with an accurate factual basis. View "State v. Boecker" on Justia Law