DWU women's soccer coach Roden pleads guilty to DUI

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The Dakota Wesleyan University women’s soccer coach received 360 days of probation after pleading guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor first-offense driving under the influence.

Dale Roden, 41, entered the plea during a change of plea hearing at the Davison County Public Safety Center in Mitchell. A speeding citation was dismissed in a plea agreement.

Circuit Judge Sean O’Brien required that Roden pay $978 for a fine, court costs and a blood test. He required Roden to follow the recommendations resulting from an alcohol evaluation and noted Roden had already completed that requirement.

“If you violate your probation, you will have to serve 30 days on this sentence,” O’Brien told Roden.

Roden was arrested Oct. 18 after being stopped by a Davison County sheriff’s deputy for speeding on a motorcycle on 254th Street west of Mitchell at 12:50 p.m., according to court documents. Deputy Benjamin Gant could smell alcohol on Roden and gave him a preliminary breath test. He also received field sobriety tests.

Roden’s blood alcohol level was 0.144. The legal driving limit is 0.08.

Roden initially pleaded not guilty to the charge in December, and a trial date was set for Tuesday.

Roden’s attorney, Doug Dailey, submitted paperwork to Circuit Judge Sean O’Brien from Abbott House that his client completed an evaluation that recommended he enroll in the First Offender Program. Roden completed that program, Dailey said.

Dailey asked for a suspended sentence for Roden, saying it was his first DUI offense. He pointed out that as a soccer coach, his client must maintain a driver’s license for recruiting trips with a company vehicle.

Dailey submitted a copy of DWU’s driving policy. It states that students, employees and others may not drive university vehicles if their driving record contains citations for a DUI within the last three years.

Because Roden received a suspended imposition of sentence, he did not lose his driver’s license, Assistant State’s Attorney Bob O’Keefe said Tuesday afternoon.

Roden had faced a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

DWU Athletic Director Curt Hart declined to comment on Roden’s conviction Tuesday afternoon, saying he wanted to speak with Roden first.

Tags: college soccer, dale roden, sports, soccer, tigers