The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Three notable DWI sentences were handed down in Otter Tail County earlier this week, including two men who were driving drunk with kids in their vehicles.

Mathew James Hilde, 30, of Dalton, was convicted of DWI, fined $900 and sentenced to 10 days in jail and 6 years unsupervised probation.

Hilde was pulled over at 11 p.m. on June 2 in Pelican Rapids, near the fire department, when a police officer clocked him going 42 mph in a 30 mph zone, according to court records. The officer spotted a child under 16 years of age in the back seat, and a quick check revealed that Hilde’s driver’s license was suspended. The complaint reported that Hilde failed all three intoxication tests and blew a .15 blood alcohol content.

Timothy Lee Angell, 46, of Ottertail, was also convicted of DWI. He was sentenced to time served in jail, fined $900 and must serve 6 years supervised probation.

Angell was pulled over on State Highway 108, south of County Highway 52, after a trooper observed him not wearing his seatbelt, court records state. As the trooper was talking to Angell, he saw two young kids in the backseat. Angell admitted to having three or four beers, and his blood alcohol content was .12.

Finally, Matthew James Jacobson, 36, of Fergus Falls, was convicted of DWI and obstructing the legal process. He was fined $1,000 (plus $407 in restitution) and sentenced to time served in jail and 6 years supervised probation.

Jacobson’s DWI occurred on the morning of March 18, after he was at a St. Patrick’s Day party on Augustana Drive, near Otter Tail Lake, court records state. After a fight broke out at the home around 2 a.m., Jacobson wanted to leave, but the woman who was giving him a ride did not want to leave yet. She gave him her keys so he could sit in the car until she was ready to go. When she woke up, however, the car was gone.

Records then state that shortly after noon, a Fergus Falls police officer spotted the car parked on Vine Street, near the Cavour Avenue intersection, and he attempted to stop Jacobson, who was still in the driver’s seat. However, as the officer turned on his police lights, Jacobson got up and started to walk away. When the officer attempted to put him under arrest, he tried to get away and shake off the officer, eventually requiring another officer to restrain him.

During the arrest, two full beer cans were found in Jacobson’s pockets, and he smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech.

Things could have been much worse for Jacobson; he had charges of motor vehicle theft and driving with a revoked license dismissed.

All three men were sentenced on Monday.