Teen pleads guilty to driving offense

Published 6:21 am Monday, December 21, 2009

A Stewartville teenager pleaded guilty Friday in Mower County court to a misdemeanor driving offense for fleeing from police during the Mower County Fair.

The 17-year-old boy had originally pleaded not guilty on Oct. 12.

Olmsted County court will also be assuming jurisdiction over the case because of where the boy is from.

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According to a sheriff’s report, the boy was involved in a fight near the cattle barns on the night of Aug. 14 when he was approached by deputies.

He ran from the authorities and eventually hopped into a vehicle, driving away at a high speed toward the north exit of the fairgrounds.

Deputies could not catch the boy, who turned onto 12th Street Southwest and left the area.

The 17-year-old later arranged to meet with deputies and said he had fled because he was afraid of being arrested in front of his family.

He said the incident stemmed from an argument he had with his mother in the family’s camper. According to the complaint, the boy hit and bit his 19-year-old brother, who was trying to restrain the boy.