Modesto Vences Pena

At 3:18 AM on May 24, 2026, Trooper Nelson came upon a Kia Soul bearing Minnesota license plates JGS724 parked 1.5-2 feet away from the curb on Sherburne Avenue near Cedar Street, St. Paul, Ramsey County. Trooper Nelson saw the defendant, MODESTO VENCES PENA [DOB REDACTED], asleep in the driver’s seat. The Soul’s keys were om the front passenger seat, and Trooper Nelson smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from inside the Soul. Trooper Nelson knocked on the window waking the defendant.

The defendant had bloodshot, bloody eyes, and his speech was slow and slurred. The defendant said he had been parked at that location for an hour, and he admitted he had driven the car. The defendant said he had consumed 10 beers. Modesto provided a preliminary breath test sample that showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.238. Trooper Nelson arrested the defendant. The defendant called his girlfriend to pick up her Soul. When given the opportunity to have a Spanish interpreter or his girlfriend translate the Breath Test Advisory, the defendant opted for his girlfriend.

The defendant indicated he understood the advisory and declined to contact an attorney. The defendant provided a breath test that registered an alcohol concentration of 0.18 on the DataMaster at 4:45 AM. The defendant has at least 3 qualified prior impaired driving incidents within the past 10 years: On September 30, 2024, the defendant was sentenced on a felony DWI in Scott County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••. On June 5, 2023, the defendant was sentenced on a gross misdemeanor DWI in Ramsey County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••. On May 10, 2022, the defendant was sentenced on a misdemeanor DWI in Scott County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••. The defendant has pending DWI charges in Rock County District Court file 2020CT000007 and 2020CT000008.