Thief River Falls Man Gets 46 Months for Felony DWI

Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — Torrey Robert Winger, 50, has been sentenced on two felony convictions.

Winger received 46 months in prison for first-degree driving while impaired.

The DWI offense involved a prior felony DWI conviction.

He also received 17 months for fifth-degree controlled substance crime involving a previous conviction.

That sentence will run at the same time as the 46-month DWI sentence.

Prison Sentences Ordered

For the felony DWI conviction, Winger was sentenced to 46 months in prison.

He must also provide a DNA sample.

Winger was ordered to pay $135 in fees and fines.

For the drug conviction, Winger received a 17-month prison sentence.

That term will run concurrently with the DWI sentence.

Winger may not use or possess firearms, ammunition, or explosives.

He must provide a DNA sample and pay a $50 fine.

Minnesota Statute 169A.24 covers first-degree driving while impaired.

Torrey Robert Winger

The charges followed a March 25 traffic stop in Thief River Falls.

The stop happened at about 6:02 p.m.

It occurred near Third Street and Arnold Avenue, according to the complaint.

Police reported seeing possible signs of impairment while speaking with Winger.

Winger then performed field sobriety tests.

The complaint states he failed some of those tests.

Police also looked inside Winger’s mouth during the investigation.

They reported seeing bumps on the back of his tongue.

The complaint described those bumps as a possible sign of recent drug use.

Winger reportedly said he had last used drugs several months earlier.

Winger was on supervised probation for a June 2023 felony drug conviction.

His probation agent requested a urine test and authorized searches, according to the complaint.

Police found a butane torch lighter on Winger.

Inside the vehicle, officers found a sealed package containing a white crystalline substance.

A glass pipe was also found.

The substance and pipe tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the complaint.

The package weighed about two grams.

A search warrant was later obtained for a blood or urine sample.

Authorities collected a urine sample and sent it for laboratory testing.

A separate probation test reportedly detected MDMA, amphetamines, and methamphetamines.

The complaint also listed an August 2019 felony DWI conviction.

Minnesota Statute 152.025 covers fifth-degree controlled substance crimes.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.