Updated: Dakota County Attorney Announces Sentence for Fatal Crash in South St Paul; Unhappy With Sentencing
SOUTH ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - The Dakota County Attorney, Kathy Keena, announced today that 53-year-old Bobbie Jo (Puttbrese) Braun of North St Paul, Minnesota, has been officially sentenced to 5-years probation by Judge Stacey Sorensen Gree in connection with the Fatal Crash that occurred on June 5, 2023, in South St. Pau, Minnesota that killed 60-year-old Paul Craven and injured two others.
According to the press release from the Dakota County Attorney states, this sentence was a "downward dispositional departure from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines." The state had reportedly requested Ms. Braun be sentenced to a 48-month prison term, which the guidelines normally call for in a situation like this. Ms. Braun pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of criminal vehicular homicide (negligence and under the influence of alcohol), one count of criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm (negligence and under the influence of alcohol), and one gross misdemeanor count of criminal vehicular operation resulting in bodily harm (negligence and under the influence of alcohol).
According to police, Braun had slurred speech, watery eyes, and dilated pupils. The preliminary breath test that Braun was given showed her blood-alcohol level concentration was 0.201, which is around 2.5 times the legal limit.
The media release states that surveillance video from a nearby business showed Braun crossing the center lane and hitting a truck head-on. Mr. Craven, who was a passenger in the van driven by Braun, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where he later passed away. The driver of the truck was injured, was transported to a local hospital, and was later released.
County Attorney Kathy Keena said, "I’m disappointed with the court’s downward dispositional departure decision, given Ms. Braun’s actions in this case." She additionally said, "My condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Mr. Craven.”
On the morning of February 22nd, the South St Paul Police Department made a statement on their Facebook page in regards to the announcement of the sentencing for Bobbi Braun following the fatal crash. The Department stated,
“We share Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena's disappointment in the court's downward dispositional departure in this case where one life was lost, and two others were gravely injured resulting from Ms. Braun's decision to drive this day [while under the influence].”
You can find Limitless Media's initial coverage of this story here: Fatal crash in South Saint Paul, alcohol suspected
Cover Photo by Max Fleischmann on Unsplash
