Judge Rules on Change of Venue Request for Ex-MN State Trooper Charged in Teen’s Traffic Death
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The trial for the former state trooper charged in the traffic death of an 18-year-old woman will be held in Rochester.
See Also: Three Teens Suffer Injuries in Southeast Minnesota Crash
34-year-old Shane Roper is charged with second-degree manslaughter, criminal vehicular homicide, criminal vehicular operation.
He was on duty and behind the wheel of a State Patrol squad car when he was involved in a fatal crash near an entrance to Apache Mall in Rochester in May of 2024.
The crash claimed the life of Owatonna High School student Olivia Flores.
Roper is accused of causing the fatal collision by speeding at more than 80 mph in a 40 mph zone without emergency lights activated.
Flores was the passenger in a car that was struck by the squad car, according to the criminal complaint.
Roper was fired from the State Patrol in September of 2024.
Olmsted County Judge Denies Former State Trooper's Change of Venue Request for Deadly Crash Trial
In February, the Hayfield man motioned to move his trial out of Olmsted County, arguing that extensive media coverage of the case would prevent the seating of an impartial jury in Olmsted County.
Read More: Change of Venue Motion Delays Manslaughter Trial of Former State Trooper
On Monday the judge presiding over the case denied the defense’s request for a change of venue.
“On the current record, the Court believes that a fair and impartial trial in Olmsted County can be had. Thus, Mr. Roper’s motion for change of venue is preliminarily denied, unless and until additional probative evidence develops to the contrary,” part of the ruling’s conclusion says.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled to happen in June.
Roper previously filed a motion for the charges to be dismissed that was also denied by the judge.
Along with criminal charges, the former law enforcement officer is also facing a civil lawsuit from the Flores family in federal court. They are seeking monetary compensation for damages suffered by her family.
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