Minnesota woman pleads guilty to homicide

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A Minnesota woman pled guilty to one count of vehicular homicide Wednesday in Pierce County Circuit Court.

Janice M. Pedersen, 64, Apple Valley, officially entered an Alford plea, which means she does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty. She will be sentenced 11 a.m., October 15.

Pedersen was charged last year stemming from an incident in October 2010 when she was alleged to have caused the death of Donald R. Opdahl, 65.

According to the criminal complaint, Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies were called to an accident on Hwy. 35 near CTH VV. Upon arrival, two witnesses said a Chevrolet Corvette, driven by Pedersen, was driving negligently, speeding and passing dangerously.

The accident occurred when the Corvette, the witnesses stated, passed them around a curve, got into the gravel and overturned.

For more please read the August 1 print version of the Herald.

Tags: crime and courts, news, minnesota, crime