Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Beltrami County criminal complaint says a Ponemah man faces two charges after a traffic stop in Bemidji on March 2, 2026.
According to the complaint, Robert Sean Cobenais is charged with gross misdemeanor DWI and misdemeanor driving after revocation. The case was filed in the Minnesota District Court.
What the complaint says
The complaint states officers saw a vehicle moving slowly through the north parking lot at Lueken’s. The vehicle parked, moved again, and then stopped closer to the store entrance.
After checking the plate, police learned the registered owner did not have a valid driver’s license, the complaint says. Officers then stopped the vehicle.
According to the complaint, the driver appeared tired and sluggish. The complaint also says his eyes looked glassy and his pupils appeared unusually constricted.
Police identified the driver as Cobenais. The complaint says he admitted he did not have a valid driver’s license. Officers later confirmed his driving privileges were revoked.
The complaint says officers asked Cobenais to step out of the vehicle. They then checked his pupils and observed little reaction to light. The complaint also says they saw eyelid tremors during the roadside evaluation.
According to the court filing, Cobenais admitted using methamphetamine earlier that morning. The complaint says he declined standard field sobriety tests.
Urine sample and charges
Police took Cobenais to the hospital and obtained a search warrant for a blood or urine sample, the complaint says. Court records state he agreed to provide a urine sample for testing.
The lead charge alleges he drove while his body contained any amount of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, or its metabolite, excluding cannabis and hemp-related products. That charge is listed under Minnesota Statute 169A.20.
The second charge alleges he drove after his license had been revoked. That allegation falls under Minnesota Statute 171.24.
Prior revocation noted
The complaint says Cobenais’ license was revoked after a July 14, 2025, implied consent incident in Beltrami County. Court records state that revocation remained active on the date of this stop.
The complaint also references a pending third-degree DWI case from 2025. Charges in the new case remain allegations unless proven in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.