7 Felonies Dropped Against Rochester Woman Accused of Hit & Run
Winona, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester woman accused of a hit and run last year in Winona County today entered into a plea agreement.
33-year-old Cherise Dale admitted to a misdemeanor careless driving charge in exchange for the dismissal of nine other charges including seven felonies. The list of felonies included two counts of criminal vehicular operation and multiple burglary charges.
Dale was arrested in March of last year after the Winona County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a person being struck by a vehicle in Rollingstone and found a seriously injured woman lying on a road. The criminal complaint stated that the woman was unable to move her lower extremities and had significant facial and other injuries.
A witness told investigators that Dale and the injured woman were involved in a heated verbal exchange inside the victim’s home that escalated into a physical altercation on the front porch of the residence. Dale allegedly left with the other woman's phone and got into her vehicle and "floored it" when the victim followed her and demanded the return of the phone.
The witness indicated the victim was then dragged by Dale's vehicle as she sped away from the scene. It was unclear if the woman was struck by the vehicle or if her injuries occurred when she fell to the pavement after being dragged.
Dale was later located in Rochester and was taken into custody. She was sentenced today to 80 days in jail but was also given credit for the 80 days she has already spent in custody.