Grand Forks lawmaker settles DUI case, pleads guilty to reckless driving

Rep. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks. (Photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly)

A Grand Forks lawmaker pleaded guilty to reckless driving last week after being cited for DUI in May, according to court filings.

In an agreement with prosecutors, Rep. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of reckless driving, a Class B misdemeanor, court records show.

She agreed to pay a $901 fine and submit a chemical dependency evaluation to the court within 60 days. Cory received a suspended sentence of 12 days in jail, which she won’t have to serve if she completes the requirements of the agreement and does not have another criminal conviction for a year.

On May 7, Cory was driving near the intersection of Gateway Drive and Columbia Road in Grand Forks when a local police officer pulled her over, according to an arrest citation. A breath test showed Cory’s blood alcohol content was 0.168%, twice the legal limit for driving, the citation says.

As part of the agreement with prosecutors, Cory signed a statement admitting to driving recklessly “with disregard for the right or safety of others in a manner that would likely endanger a person.”

When contacted for comment Tuesday, Cory said in a text message she was unavailable due to meetings throughout the day. Messages left for her defense attorneys were not returned Tuesday.

Cory won the Republican primary in June for the District 42 state Senate seat with 56% of the vote, defeating challenger Dustin McNally. The Senate seat was vacated by Sen. Curt Kreun, R-Grand Forks, who was one of 13 lawmakers who decided not to run for reelection .

Cory will face Democratic-NPL Senate candidate Rodney John Gigstad in the November general election.

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