An man charged after driving drunk during a three-vehicle crash in March that injured an Emmons man in Albert Lea was placed on probation for four years Friday in Freeborn County District Court.

Omar Gasper Sanchez Jr., 30, of Albert Lea was sentenced after he pleaded guilty in July to carrying or possessing a pistol without a permit and driving while intoxicated.

For carrying or possessing a pistol without a permit, Sanchez will be on supervised probation for two years and unsupervised probation for two years. Judge Ross Leuning sentenced Sanchez to 365 days in jail. Of that, 322 days were stayed.

Of the remaining amount, Leuning gave Sanchez credit for 42 days served.

While on probation, Sanchez will be expected to not use alcohol or controlled substances, complete a chemical assessment, attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving impact panel and follow other court requirements.

For driving while intoxicated, Sanchez was sentenced to 365 stayed days in jail and was placed on supervised probation for four years. 

Court documents state Sanchez was charged after Albert Lea officers received a report of a traffic crash March 10 at the intersection of Fifth Street and Frank Avenue.

Sanchez was driving a Nissan Maxima east on Fifth Street when he failed to stop at a stop sign, traveling 80 mph and striking the rear-end of a parked 2004 Lincoln LS. The Lincoln traveled 30 feet into a trailer that landed on its side in the middle of the road. The Nissan veered right, striking and damaging a light pole.

The passenger, Oscar Leonard Galvin, was unconscious after the crash. He suffered at least a broken collarbone, and was later taken by a critical care team to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Several .45-caliber bullets were found in Sanchez’s pocket, along with a baggie of marijuana weighing 3.2 grams.

An empty Glock 10-round magazine was found on Galvin, and a .45-caliber handgun was found near Galvin’s feet.

Sanchez was charged with two counts of felony criminal vehicular operation, misdemeanor marijuana possession in a motor vehicle and one other DWI count, but those charges were dismissed.

 

See what happened over the weekend in the PM report here.