Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) – A Ponemah woman is facing gross misdemeanor charges in Beltrami County after police say she was driving under the influence of alcohol with a revoked license.
According to a criminal complaint, Nichelle Sasha Nelson, 27, was stopped by Bemidji police just after 1:00 a.m. on August 2, 2025. Officers reported her Dodge Durango had a broken third brake light.
When police made contact, Nelson told officers she did not have a valid license. Records confirmed her driving privileges were revoked. Officers also reported the strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle and Nelson herself. She admitted she had last consumed alcohol around 5:00 p.m. the previous day.
Field sobriety tests were conducted, during which Nelson showed signs of impairment. A preliminary breath test registered 0.150. She was arrested and taken to the Beltrami County Jail.
At the jail, Nelson initially asked to speak with an attorney before testing, but later agreed to provide a breath sample. The official test result showed an alcohol concentration of 0.14 at 2:04 a.m.
Court records reveal Nelson has a prior third-degree DWI conviction from 2022, which qualifies as an aggravating factor under Minnesota law.
Nelson is now charged with gross misdemeanor DWI – operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more within two hours. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.
The case is under review in Beltrami County District Court.
For more on Minnesota impaired driving laws, visit the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
