On March 6, 2026, at approximately 12:10 am, Stearns County Sheriff's Deputies Pomplun and Bragelman responded to a report of a pickup truck in the ditch near a business in the 100 block of State Highway 55 East in Kimball MN, and a male who appeared to be highly intoxicated, stumbling around near the truck. Deputy Pomplun arrived on scene and observed the vehicle, a Ford F-150 pickup with a Minnesota License plate of TGA686, and a Ford Explorer that was parked near the pickup. The pickup was hung up and halfway hanging off the side of the retaining wall to the right of the business, causing damage to the wall.
As Deputy Pomplun parked and exited her vehicle, a male later identified as AUSTIN JONATHON LEEDOM, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, exited the passenger seat of the Explorer and identified himself as the driver of the F-150. The defendant stated that he had eye-sight issues that caused him to misjudge his surroundings and drive off the retaining wall. The defendant stated that he attempted to get his vehicle unstuck but had been unsuccessful. He explained that his wife arrived shortly after in her Explorer.
While speaking with the defendant, Deputy Pomplun noticed that he was wearing an ankle monitor. The defendant stated that he was on probation for DWI and the ankle monitor tracked his blood alcohol content and reported it back to probation. While speaking with the defendant, Deputies noticed a strong odor of alcohol emitting from the defendant, that the defendant had bloodshot watering eyes, was slurring his speech, and had balance issues that required him to hold on to the vehicle to maintain his balance.
The deputy asked the defendant if he had anything to drink that evening and he denied any alcohol use. Deputy Pomplun asked the defendant if he would be willing to conduct field sobriety testing and he stated that he would. The defendant completed field sobriety testing, which showed additional indicators of impairment. Deputy Pomplun asked the defendant if he would consent to a preliminary breath test, to which the defendant consented. Deputies obtained a preliminary breath test sample of 0.143 from the defendant.
Deputy Pomplun fully identified the defendant with his driver's license and after verifying his information with Dispatch, learned that the defendant's license status was cancelled-inimical to public safety. The defendant stated that he was aware that his license was cancelled and that it was due to a prior DWI conviction. Upon running the defendant's criminal history, deputies confirmed that the defendant had prior DWI convictions within the last 10 years. Deputy Pomplun obtained a signed search warrant for a legal blood draw.
The defendant's blood draw was done by hospital staff on March 6, 2026, at 2:30 am. There are additional aggravating factors present, to-wit: the defendant has three prior DWI convictions, for which he was sentenced on March 25, 2024, in Stearns County District Court File No. ••-CR-••-••••, September 20, 2024, in Stearns County District Court File No. ••-CR-••-••••, and September 29, 2021, in San Diego County District Court File No. M273728. Complainant has reason to believe and does believe that all of the above information is true and correct.
