AP and staff reports

ST.

Wednesday, May 10, 2000

ST. PAUL – State Rep. Rob Leighton (DFL-Austin) pleaded guilty Tuesday to drunken driving and will serve 30 days beginning June 1, likely under home monitoring.

Leighton also was fined $900 and placed on probation for two years, a Ramsey County District Court spokeswoman said. He also was ordered to participate in a Mothers Against Drunk Driving panel. Judge James Campbell stayed a one-year jail term and $3,000 fine.

Campbell said that he would allow Leighton to serve his sentence in Mower County if officials here agree.

Leighton, 34, was arrested April 25 after a night out at a St. Paul bar. He and a passenger were stopped shortly after witnesses reported that the car they were in had struck two parked cars and then driven off. When Leighton was arrested, police found him to have a 0.23 blood-alcohol level, more than twice the legal limit.

Paul Rogosheske, Leighton’s attorney, said the lawmaker had gotten behind the wheel after the accident to take the woman who had been driving, Anna Youngerman, to the hospital. Youngerman, 23, a DFL campaign strategist who lives in St. Paul, had cut her nose in the two collisions and received nine stitches.

"I offer a full apology to the House of Representatives for the embarrassment I may have brought upon that great institution," Leighton said in a statement after the court hearing.

He also apologized to his wife Shawn and children.

Leighton also must undergo court-ordered chemical dependency evaluation.

Since Leighton’s arrest, he has undergone psychological tests and found to not have an alcohol abuse problem, his attorney said.

House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty, R-Eagan, said leaders had not determined whether they would file an ethics complaint against Leighton. If they did, it would have to be considered before the 2000 session, which was winding down Tuesday, adjourns.

"On the one hand it’s a very disturbing and unfortunate incident," Pawlenty said. "On another hand, we have to give some thought as to whether we want every misstep to be an ethics investigation."

Youngerman appeared in court with Leighton Tuesday and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident. She was fined $210 and placed on probation for two years, the court spokeswoman said. The judge stayed a 90-day jail sentence and $700 fine.