Mahnomen Man Faces Cannabis DWI Charge Near Roy Lake

CLEARWATER COUNTY, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — A Mahnomen man faces criminal charges following a nighttime traffic stop near Roy Lake.

Charles Duane Hvezda Jr., 46, is charged with third-degree driving while impaired by cannabis and possessing an open cannabis package.

According to the criminal complaint, Hvezda admitted smoking marijuana approximately 15 minutes before deputies stopped his vehicle.

The October 14, 2026, incident occurred along State Highway 200 in Clearwater County.

Deputy Stops Vehicle Near Roy Lake

According to court documents, a Clearwater County deputy was traveling eastbound on Highway 200 around 11:33 p.m.

The deputy noticed a vehicle displaying White Earth license plates and checked its registration.

Records identified Hvezda as the registered owner and showed his driver’s license was revoked.

The deputy activated emergency lights and stopped the vehicle.

During the stop, the deputy confirmed Hvezda was driving.

According to the complaint, the deputy immediately smelled freshly burned marijuana coming from the vehicle.

The deputy also reported that Hvezda appeared drowsy and was speaking and moving slowly.

Driver Allegedly Admits Smoking Marijuana

When questioned about marijuana, Hvezda reportedly acknowledged having cannabis inside the vehicle.

He showed the deputy two marijuana joints that were not in their original retail packaging.

According to the complaint, Hvezda admitted smoking marijuana approximately 15 minutes before the traffic stop.

The deputy then asked Hvezda to exit the vehicle for further investigation.

Hvezda reportedly questioned whether field sobriety tests would be required.

He told the deputy he had balance problems because of medical issues.

Mahnomen Man Faces Cannabis DWI Charge Near Roy Lake

Field Sobriety Testing Ends Early

The deputy attempted to conduct field sobriety testing to determine whether Hvezda was impaired.

According to the complaint, Hvezda initially had difficulty following instructions during an eye-movement test.

He later stopped participating and asked the deputy to take him to jail.

Hvezda reportedly rated his level of intoxication as two on a scale of one to ten.

He declined further testing, according to the complaint.

Authorities arrested him on suspicion of driving while impaired.

Blood Sample Obtained Under Search Warrant

Following the arrest, authorities obtained a judicial search warrant for a blood or urine sample.

According to the complaint, Hvezda received the signed warrant and agreed to provide a blood sample.

The sample was collected for testing by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The complaint does not include laboratory results or a confirmed THC concentration.

The investigation also identified a previous DWI conviction dated October 7, 2025.

Prosecutors cited the prior impaired-driving history as an aggravating factor supporting the third-degree charge.

Two Criminal Charges Filed

Prosecutors filed two counts in Clearwater County District Court.

Count 1: Third-Degree Driving While Impaired. Prosecutors allege Hvezda operated a vehicle while under the influence of cannabis.

The gross-misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Count 2: Cannabis Open-Package Possession. Prosecutors allege Hvezda possessed cannabis removed from its original packaging inside a vehicle.

The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Minnesota’s DWI law prohibits operating a motor vehicle while impaired by cannabis.

The state’s cannabis open-package law also restricts possession of improperly packaged cannabis inside vehicles.

Case Filed in Clearwater County Court

The case is filed under number 15-CR-26-366 in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.

The supplied complaint does not establish a conviction, sentence, or final outcome.

Readers can search for updates through Minnesota Court Records Online.

Additional information about third-degree DWI is available under Minnesota Statute 169A.26.

Hvezda is presumed innocent of the pending allegations unless and until proven guilty in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.