The mayor of a small Minnesota town was arrested for DUI as he prepared to drive a school bus on Thursday.
Police were acting on a tip that Rice Mayor Erik Bonde was driving with a suspended driver’s license. Upon confronting Bonde, officers noticed that the mayor appeared to be intoxicated. During a search of the school bus, officers found a container that housed an alcoholic beverage. Bonde submitted to a breathalyzer test, and it showed that he was above the legal driving limit. He was booked for driving under the influence.
Kids Safe
Thankfully, no students were on the bus at the time Bonde was taken into custody. This is his second DUI on record, as court records indicate he had a previous drunk driving conviction in 2007 in Crow Wing County. Although that means he is outside the 10-year window to receive and upgraded DUI charge, the fact that he intended to drive a vehicle full of minors may lead to an upgraded DUI charge. We’ll have to see how the Rice police department decides to handle the case.
Bonde was elected mayor of Rice during the last election cycle in November. He could not be reached for comment, and it’s unknown if he has legal representation at this time.
If he doesn’t have a lawyer, Bonde is going to want to get one sooner rather than later. Aside from the chance that he could face upgraded DUI charges since minors would have been involved, it’s unlikely he’ll get much sympathy from the judge. Even if a lawyer can’t get him out the the charges, there’s a decent chance that a plea deal in his favor can be reached. He’s still not going to get off easy, but at this point there’s no harm in seeking professional legal help.
If you or someone you know needs legal assistance after this weekend, reach out to the experienced lawyers at Appelman Law Firm at (952) 224-2277.
