A Prague woman facing a felony charge following her arrest after a Prague police officer responded to a panic alarm at a convenience store has changed her plea and been handed a deferred term.
A formal charge of actual physical control of a vehicle under the influence was filed in Lincoln County District Court on April 15, 2024 against Ginger Leigh Dahlem, 56.
She made her initial appearance before Special Judge Emily Mueller on April 18 and her bond was set at $5,000. The judge ordered her back in court on June 6.
Appearing recently before District Judge Sarah Bridge on the felony disposition docket, Dahlem, as the result of a plea bargain, withdrew her previous plea and pleaded guilty. The judge received the plea and found her guilty as charged.
The judge deferred sentencing for a period of five years and, gave her a $100 judicial assessment, $100 VCA and courts costs. Judge Bridge ordered she obtain a drug and alcohol assessmentandcomplete allrecommendedfollowup treatment, to attend a victim impact panel, pay a lab fee, have an ignition interlock device placed on her vehicle for one year and pay 991 fees.
Dahlem was placed on probation with the Oklahoma Court Services and ordered to report to the Probation Office and Court Clerk’s Office.
Dahlemwas accused on April 6 of being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle on a public road while under the influence of alcohol.
Supplemental information filed byAssistant District Attorney Adam Kallsnick shows that Dahlem was convicted in Pottawatomie County District Court on July 1, 2021ofthemisdemeanor offense of driving while under the influence of alcohol.
In a probable cause affidavit, Prague Police Officer Andrew James stated he responded to the Indian Smoke Shop convenience store at 523 N.JimThorpeBoulevard in Prague after a panic alarm went off several times.
James said in the affidavit that he spoke with the clerk upon arrival and sheadvisedhimawoman had driven through the drive-through window and was yelling at her. The clerk advised the officer she refused to serve the woman who then parked the vehicle and came inside the business and was yelling at her still.
The clerk reportedly asked the woman to leave, she refused until the clerk told her she had called the police then she left.
James said he began to patrol the area, located the vehicle and stopped it. The driver was identified as Dahlem and the officer later transported Dahlem to the Prague Police Department and booked her into jail after first driving her to the PragueCommunityHospital where he witnessed medical professionals perform a blood draw.