Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced today that Bobbi Jo (Puttbrese) Braun, age 53 of North St. Paul, was sentenced today to five years probation by Judge Stacey Sorensen Green which represents a downward dispositional departure from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines. Ms. Braun must also comply with all ordered conditions. The state requested that Ms. Braun be sentenced to a term of 48 months in prison as called for by the guidelines.
Ms. Braun pleaded guilty October 2023 to one count of criminal vehicular homicide (negligence and under the influence of alcohol) in connection with the June 5, 2023 fatal crash in South St. Paul that killed 60-year-old Paul Edward Craven, and to one count of criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm (negligence and under the influence of alcohol) and one gross misdemeanor count of criminal vehicular operation resulting in bodily harm (negligence and under the influence of alcohol) related to the injuries of two other individuals.
According to the criminal complaint, a responding South St. Paul Police officer found Ms. Braun sitting on the sidewalk, close to one of the vehicles involved in the crash. The officer noted she had slurred speech, watery eyes and dilated pupils. The preliminary breath test showed Braun's blood-alcohol concentration was .201.
Surveillance video from a nearby business displayed Ms. Braun crossed the center lane and hit a truck head-on. Mr. Craven, a passenger in the van driven by Ms. Braun, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he later died. Passengers in the truck were injured and transported to a local hospital and later released.
“I'm disappointed with the court's downward dispositional departure decision, given Ms. Braun's actions in this case," said County Attorney Kathy Keena. “My condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Mr. Craven."
“Thank you to the South St. Paul Police Department for their thorough investigation and Assistant County Attorney David Hemming."
The facts pertaining to this case can be found in the criminal complaint at Criminal Complaint Search.