MAHNOMEN COUNTY, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) – A Mahnomen man faces a gross misdemeanor charge after a traffic stop revealed that his driving privileges remained canceled as inimical to public safety.
Donald Howard Dakota, 54, of Mahnomen, is charged with driving after cancellation following a September 4, 2026, traffic stop.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Mahnomen County District Court, Dakota acknowledged knowing his license had been canceled.
Officer Checks Vehicle’s Tribal License Plate
On September 4, 2026, an officer working in Mahnomen County conducted a license plate check on a vehicle displaying tribal plates.
The records check revealed that the vehicle’s registered owner had driving privileges canceled as inimical to public safety.
According to court documents, the officer then reviewed previous law enforcement contacts involving the vehicle.
The computer-aided dispatch system showed that the vehicle had previously been involved in an incident during June 2026.
Records Reveal Previous June Arrest
The officer discovered that Dakota had been arrested in June for allegedly driving with canceled driving privileges.
According to the complaint, the previous incident involved the same vehicle.
The officer subsequently conducted another traffic stop and identified Dakota as the driver.
The complaint does not specify the roadway where the September traffic stop occurred.
Driver Acknowledges Canceled License
During the stop, Dakota reportedly acknowledged his previous June arrest.
According to court documents, he also confirmed that his driving privileges remained canceled as inimical to public safety.
Investigators included those statements in the probable cause supporting the new criminal charge.
The complaint does not allege that Dakota was driving while intoxicated during the September incident.
No crash, injuries, or dangerous driving behavior is described in the supplied charging document.
Gross Misdemeanor Charge Filed
Prosecutors charged Dakota with driving after cancellation as inimical to public safety under Minnesota Statute 171.24, subdivision 5.
Minnesota law prohibits operating a motor vehicle when driving privileges have been canceled or denied under the specified public safety provision.
To establish the offense, prosecutors must also prove that the driver knew or reasonably should have known about the cancellation.
The offense is classified as a gross misdemeanor.
A conviction carries a maximum possible penalty of 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.
Mahnomen County Court Case
The case is filed in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District under court file number 44-CR-26-594.
The criminal complaint lists a summons for Dakota.
The supplied complaint references a previous June arrest but does not establish whether that incident resulted in a conviction.
The September charge remains an allegation. Dakota is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Additional public court information can be searched through Minnesota Court Records Online.
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.
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