A Cass Lake man facing eight counts of criminal vehicular homicide has amended his not guilty plea under terms of a plea agreement Cass County Court.
Michael James Stangel, 28, was arrested in May after he was involved in a crash that killed two people north of Palace Casino. Stangel pleaded not guilty in September; and under a plea agreement with prosecutors, six of the charges against him were dismissed Dec. 8.
Stangle remains charged with operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner under the influence of alcohol. Stangel had a blood-alcohol content of .33 percent, more than four times the legal limit, when his vehicle crossed the center line of County Road 75 north of Palace Casino and struck a Cass Lake couple's vehicle head on, resulting in the death of both occupants.
A second-degree criminal vehicular homicide charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine. Stangle is scheduled for sentencing in Cass County Court on Jan. 23.
Original charges included operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner, operating a vehicle with negligence under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more and alcohol concentration of .08 or more within two hours of driving.
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