The Duluth dentist accused of driving drunk and colliding with a parked Minnesota State Patrol trooper in August pleaded guilty Wednesday in Carlton County Court.
Timothy Robert Langguth, 61, of Moose Lake pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular operation of a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 or greater, resulting in substantial bodily harm. Another charge of criminal vehicular operation of a motor vehicle resulting in substantial bodily harm was dismissed.
The plea agreement calls for a suspended sentence, according to Langguth's attorney, David Keegan. He said in court that he planned to ask for a staggered sentence, in which Langguth would retain responsibility for achieving conditions of probation and convincing the court he has adopted lifestyle changes that significantly lessen his chances of any similar offenses.
"My position is that this is the kind of case ... the staggered sentence was made for," Keegan said.
Since the crash that injured Langguth and Minnesota State Trooper Erick Sjodin on Aug. 22, Langguth has completed several chemical dependency treatment programs, including one at Miller-Dwan in Duluth, Hazelden in southern Minnesota and an after-care program at the Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment in Duluth. Langguth is also starting another program next week that will monitor his progress through meetings and periodic urinalysis tests.
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District Court Judge Robert Macaulay said in light of that information, he would not order a chemical evaluation, but would have a pre-sentence investigation done before sentencing set for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 6.
Sjodin, 31, graduated from the State Patrol Academy in April and was working only his ninth shift alone when police say Langguth drove his 1998 Subaru Legacy into Sjodin's 2006 Chevrolet Impala squad car on the passenger side about 12:25 a.m. Aug. 22 in the median of Interstate 35 near the Moorhead Road overpass in Cloquet. Sjodin and his patrol partner, Matt Respet, were responding to a call of a motorist who reported that Langguth's vehicle passed him and then weaved around on the highway.
Langguth had a blood-alcohol content of .28, three and a half times the legal limit to drive, at the time of the crash, according to court documents.
Both vehicles were total losses. Sjodin, the married father of three children between 1 and 4 years old, sustained injuries to his abdomen, right kidney, right lung, internal bleeding and contusions to his right leg. He has since recovered and returned to work.
Langguth was initially in critical condition but is recovering from his injuries. He was able to walk into court without the wheelchair or cane he had needed in previous court appearances.
