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Charge against Byfuglien of operating a boat while impaired dropped

Live coverage of Byfuglien's impaired-boating trial

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 07/23/2012 8:58 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 07/23/2012 10:37 AM | Updates

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, left, walks his agent Ben Hankinson. Charges of operating a boat while impaired were dropped in a Minneapolis courtroom Monday morning (MIKE MCINTYRE / WINIPEG FREE PRESS)

Charges of operating a boat while impaired against Winnipeg Jet defenceman Dustin Byfuglien were dropped in a Minneapolis courtroom this morning.

Byfuglien pleaded guilty to careless boating, a misdemeanor that had to do with not having proper lighting on his boat.

The 27-year-old was arrested in August, 2011 on Lake Minnetonka. He was charged with boating while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and refusing a blood or urine sample.

Those charges were dropped at the start of court proceedings today. Byfuglien is getting a $1,000 fine and a 30-day sentence, with 28 of those days suspended.

As part of his sentence he must do "workhouse," work that might involve duties such as picking up garbage. The judge said it`s important Byfuglien be treated the "same as everyone else".

Courts reporter Mike McIntyre is live in Minneapolis this morning for the Jets' defenceman Dustin Byfuglien's impaired-boating trial.

Follow tweets from the courtroom, below:

History

Updated on Monday, July 23, 2012 at 10:37 AM CDT: Updated and new headline

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