Woman Charged in Rochester Fleeing Case Enters Guilty Plea from Prison

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Cannon Falls woman accused of fleeing police in Rochester while she had an active arrest warrant intends to enter a plea agreement. 

See Also: Gun & Drugs Found During Raid of Rochester Home, Man & Woman Arrested 

Olmsted County Court records indicate she and prosecutors reached the deal earlier this week. 

She was charged in the case this past June. 

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Cannon Falls Woman Pleads Guilty to Test Refusal in Rochester Fleeing Case

The criminal complaint says a Rochester police officer spotted 51-year-old Hope Elaine Kennsingten driving in Rochester with a canceled license and an active arrest warrant.  

Once the vehicle stopped, the officer approached Kennsingten and ordered her out of the vehicle. 

Kennsingten then accelerated away from the officer along 3rd Ave. Southeast, the charges say. The officer did not pursue and aired the vehicle’s description. 

Moments later, officers were dispatched to the Econo Lodge hotel at 1850 South Broadway Ave. on the report of a vehicle matching the one Kennsingten allegedly fled in striking a curb. 

Kennsingten fled the scene on foot into the backyard of a nearby home when officers arrived, the complaint says. An Officer eventually apprehended Kennsingten and brought her to St. Mary’s Hospital after she complained of pain. 

At the hospital, Kennsingten was displaying signs of impairment. She refused a breath test, blood test and was unable to provide a urine sample, the charges allege. 

Read More: Cannon Falls Woman With Active Warrant Arrested After Fleeing Rochester Police 

She was originally charged with felony fleeing, two counts of felony DWI, two gross misdemeanor counts of violating driving restrictions and misdemeanor fleeing. 

Kennsingten pleaded guilty to the felony DWI test refusal charge in exchange for the dismissal of the other counts, according to court records. The agreement calls for a 57-month prison term and Kennsingten is scheduled to be sentenced in March. 

Minnesota Department of Corrections records indicate Kennsingten has been incarcerated at the state prison in Shakopee since July. 

She has convictions in Olmsted, Dakota, Washington and Winona Counties, with the most severe conviction being for assault.