PINE CITY, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A high-profile Minnesota attorney, James Patrick Carey, head of one of the state’s largest personal injury firms, avoided further jail time after being sentenced to four years of supervised probation for criminal vehicular operation. The 64-year-old lawyer admitted to striking a highway construction worker while driving under the influence last October. Carey, who leads SiebenCarey, pleaded guilty to the charge in June, following the incident on Interstate 35 near Hinckley, where his blood alcohol concentration was nearly double the legal limit.
The construction worker, Joseph Gregory Flanagan, 27, was wearing a high-visibility vest when Carey’s vehicle hit him. Carey fled the scene but was later apprehended about 35 miles north of the accident site, with his vehicle missing its passenger side mirror. Flanagan sustained significant injuries but did not request restitution.
While Carey spent four days in custody, additional charges, including failure to stop after a collision and misdemeanor impaired driving, were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Prosecutor Kelli Jasper emphasized that Carey was not receiving special treatment due to his position but was held to the same standard as any other defendant.
Carey has since undergone extensive treatment and penned an apology letter to the victim, fulfilling a key term of his plea deal. His probation conditions include abstaining from alcohol, complying with treatment recommendations, and completing 80 hours of community service at a children’s hospice.
Judge Krista Martin underscored that the legal system doesn’t show favoritism toward the wealthy or powerful, acknowledging that Carey had faced intense public scrutiny. The judge highlighted Carey’s humility and commitment to his recovery, stating that his actions since the incident were a positive step toward personal improvement.
Though Carey has avoided further jail time, he will lose his license for two years and must install an ignition interlock device once it is reinstated. Reflecting on his actions, Carey expressed deep remorse for the harm he caused, stating, “Rarely does a day go by where I don’t think about it. I was in a really bad place, but I believe I’m in a better place now.”