A Fargo police detective arrested in September with a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit pleaded guilty Thursday in Cass County District Court to a drunken driving charge.
Paul Lies, 43, did not appear personally and entered the plea to the misdemeanor driving under the influence charge through his attorney, John Goff. Toxicology results show Lies had a 0.21 percent blood-alcohol concentration.
East Central District Judge Douglas Herman gave Lies a 30-day suspended sentence and ordered him to pay $750 in fines and fees and complete a chemical dependency evaluation.
Court files show Lies has completed the evaluation.
In October, Fargo police Chief Keith Ternes suspended Lies for nine days without pay for the DUI arrest and warned him he could be fired for further violations of department policy or the law.
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Detective Paul Holte, who was in the vehicle with Lies, was given a letter of reprimand in October for showing poor judgment.
Ternes said Thursday the issue has been resolved internally and Lies has completed his suspension.
"Had he contested the charge and been acquitted, that too would have had no impact on the internal outcome," Ternes said.
"The fact that he was arrested - not necessarily convicted for DUI - is what we focused on internally and resulted in the disciplinary sanction."
Lies did not return a message seeking comment.
He was arrested Sept. 8 by a North Dakota Highway Patrol officer just before 2 a.m. about a quarter-mile west of Cass County 81 and Cass County 14.
He was also cited for having an open container.
That citation was dismissed Thursday.
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Lies has been with the department since 1989 and has been reprimanded before for an incident involving alcohol.
He received a letter of reprimand in March 2006 saying his actions on New Year's Eve at Hooligan's bar in West Fargo displayed conduct unbecoming an officer and violated the department's alcohol beverages policy, according to police files.
Lies refused to leave the bar after becoming intoxicated and acted "in a belligerent manner" during that incident, according to documents pertaining to the department's internal investigation.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Brittany Lawonn at (701) 241-5541 Detective admits to drunken driving Brittany Lawonn 20080104
