State v. Hessen

In this case, the defendant allowed a clearly intoxicated person to drive her car, in which she was a passenger. The driver caused a head-on collision with another car, killing the other driver and seriously injuring four other persons, including the defendant. The defendant was charged with the municipal court offense of “permitting” an intoxicated person to drive her vehicle. The State negotiated a plea bargain, enabling the defendant to plead guilty to the lesser charge of allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle.

Plea agreements are currently authorized under the rules of…