Moorhead Man Booked on DWI Test Refusal Charge
MOORHEAD (trfnews.i234.me) — Vincent James Lais was booked into the Clay County Correctional Facility on June 26, 2026.
Lais, 40, was booked at 4:02 p.m., according to the supplied jail record.
The record lists one charge alleging refusal to submit to a chemical test during a DWI investigation.
Sherburne County was listed as the arresting agency.
The booking record does not state where the reported incident occurred.
Charge Details
The short jail entry does not identify the requested chemical test.
It also does not state whether alcohol, drugs, or another substance was suspected.
No crash, injury, alcohol concentration, or driving details appeared in the supplied information.
The entry does not list a case number, bail amount, release date, or court hearing.
Those facts may appear in a criminal complaint or a later court filing.
Minnesota Test Refusal Law
Minnesota law makes certain chemical-test refusals a crime.
The law covers refusal of an authorized breath test.
It also covers certain blood or urine tests required through a search warrant.
A refusal offense is generally treated as third-degree driving while impaired.
Third-degree DWI is classified as a gross misdemeanor.
An aggravating factor can raise a refusal case to second-degree DWI.
The supplied record does not identify any aggravating factor.
It also does not state the exact degree filed against Lais.
Possible Penalties
A gross misdemeanor can bring up to 364 days in jail.
It can also carry a fine of up to $3,000.
More serious penalties may apply when an aggravating factor is present.
A court may also address driving privileges and other DWI-related requirements.
These are possible maximum penalties, not a prediction of the case outcome.
The final charge and any sentence would depend on court’s findings.
Custody and Court Information
The Clay County Correctional Facility is located in Moorhead.
Clay County District Court is also located in Moorhead.
The court is part of Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District.
Public case information may appear through Minnesota Court Records Online.
Jail and court records can change after hearings, releases, or new filings.
Charge Remains an Allegation
A jail booking records custody and the charge listed at that time.
It does not establish guilt or prove that a test was unlawfully refused.
Lais is presumed innocent unless the allegation is proven in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.