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Journie Pletcher, Lansford, sentenced to jail for failing to render aid after driving drunk and hitting pedestrian

Journie Lyn Pletcher, 20, Lansford, will serve six months in jail and three years of supervised probation for failing to report or render aid following an accident involving a serious injury on New Year’s Day.

Pletcher pleaded guilty on Wednesday in district court in Minot to a Class C felony.

Under the terms of a plea deal, the state dropped a second Class C felony charge of criminal vehicular injury.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court in the case, Pletcher struck a pedestrian with her car while she was driving drunk. The woman suffered a large gash in her thigh and there was fatty tissue on Pletcher’s vehicle near the headlight. Pletcher then fled the scene and drove into a ditch. She had a breath alcohol content of 0.193, according to the affidavit.

In court on Wednesday, Pletcher’s lawyer, Erich Grant, said Pletcher had been drinking at a private residence on New Year’s and had planned to stay there, but there had been a incident at the residence and she decided to leave and that was when the accident happened.

Judge Doug Mattson pointed out that Pletcher could have called a taxi or a Lyft or a friend to pick her up from the residence and she did not have to drive herself.

Mattson also ordered Pletcher to make at least two presentations before a victim impact panel explaining her role in the accident while Pletcher is on probation.

Mattson agreed that Pletcher will be eligible for work and school release after she has served at least 30 of the 180 days in jail.

Pletcher will also be required to obtain a chemical dependency evaluation and pay fines and restitution yet to be determined.

She was sentenced to a total of 360 days in jail, with 180 days suspended and the three years of probation. If she successfully completes probation, the Class C felony will appear on her record as a Class A misdemeaor. Mattson also said he would be willing to give serious consideration to ending her probation early if she does well.

Grant said Pletcher has a very minimal past criminal record, including traffic citations and a misdemeanor minor in consumption conviction.

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