A Democratic state lawmaker has pleaded guilty to driving drunk and was sentenced to two days in jail plus two years of probation, according to court documents.
“I accept responsibility for driving under the influence of alcohol. I regret my decisions and I am sincerely grateful that no one was hurt,” Rep. Brion Curran told KARE 11 in a statement.
According to court records, Curran pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drunk driving charge and in exchange a second gross misdemeanor charge was dismissed. Curran’s sentencing document states that 88 days of her 90-day jail sentence was stayed with the completion of two years of supervised probation. She also is responsible for paying a $400 fine and attending a Mothers Against Drunk Driving victim panel.
In October 2023, Curran was arrested in Harris, Minn., for driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.16, twice the legal limit. According to the charging document, officers who responded said that Curran had “bloodshot watery eyes and slurred speech.” She also thought she was in St. Paul, which is roughly 40 miles south.
A Chisago County sheriff’s deputy stopped Curran’s vehicle after receiving reports of a vehicle that was “off the road” and “all over the road and speeding.”
The deputy caught up with the vehicle on I-35 as it was driving slowly on the shoulder with its hazard lights on and appeared to have “fresh damage” on the front corner and a flat tire, the charges say.
“I know that trust is earned and, once broken, is difficult to repair,” Curran said in the statement provided to KARE 11. “Since October, in recognition of the seriousness of my actions, I have been attending courses and training related to the dangers of drunk driving. I’m sorry for the decisions I made, and by pleading guilty, I accept full responsibility.”
Curran is in her first term as a Minnesota state representative. She previously worked as a deputy for the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office for 50 days before she resigned.
Curran was the third state legislator who was arrested for drunk driving last year. Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud, and Rep. Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook, were also arrested in 2023.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
