Lake Park Man Gets 3 Years for Felony DWI Refusal

Lake Park (trfnews.i234.me) — Kevin Lyle Sather, 69, of rural Lake Park, has been sentenced in Becker County District Court.

Sather was sentenced for felony first-degree DWI and refusal to submit to chemical testing.

Traffic Stop Leads to DWI Case

The case began during the evening of February 12, 2026.

A Becker County deputy was patrolling County Road 138 west of Detroit Lakes.

Court records say the deputy noticed a vehicle with no visible rear license plate.

The deputy stopped the vehicle and identified Sather as the driver.

A clear plastic cup was tipped near Sather’s feet, according to the criminal complaint.

The cup smelled of alcohol, and ice and liquid had spilled from it.

Sather told law enforcement he had consumed a couple of drinks with friends.

Court records say Sather showed signs of impairment during field sobriety testing.

He provided a preliminary breath sample showing a 0.11 alcohol concentration.

Sather was required to drive with an ignition interlock device.

His vehicle did not have the required device installed, according to court records.

An open can of cold Miller Lite beer was also found on the passenger seat.

Authorities arrested Sather and transported him to jail.

At the jail, Sather declined a breath test after saying he did not want one.

Court records also show Sather had a previous felony DWI refusal conviction from 2020.

That earlier conviction increased the seriousness of the new DWI case.

Information about Minnesota DWI laws is available through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.

The program uses a breath-testing device connected to a vehicle’s ignition.

A driver must provide an acceptable breath sample before the vehicle can start.

On July 6, Becker County District Judge Gretchen Thilmony sentenced Sather to 36 months in prison.

The prison term will be served at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud.

Sather received credit for three days already served in jail.

The court imposed a $50 fine and $125 in court fees.

Sather will also face five years of conditional release after confinement.

Becker County District Court is part of Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.

The courthouse is located in Detroit Lakes.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.