A Minnesota man has pled not guilty and will face a jury trial in Sac County for eluding, controlled substance violation, and operating while under the influence charges. According to Sac County District Court records, on Dec. 15, 2025, a Sac County Sheriff Deputy attempted to perform a routine traffic stop on a 2009 Chevrolet Impala, operated by 43-year-old Juan Roberto Rodriguez of Jackson, Minn. Rodriguez allegedly took off north of Early on Karr Avenue, continuing westbound on U.S Highway 20. The pursuit continued to Storm Lake where Rodriguez was taken into custody. A search of the vehicle discovered over six grams of methamphetamine and a pipe. He refused a field sobriety test, as well as to provide a urine sample, admitting that he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system. Rodriguez is facing one count controlled substance violation, a class B felony, eluding 25 MPH over, a class D felony, and first offense of operating under the influence, a serious misdemeanor, along with five scheduled violations including no valid drivers license, failure to obey stop/yield sign and more. A jury trial has been scheduled for March 3 at the Sac County Courthouse. If convicted, Rodriguez can face a maximum sentence of over 30 years in prison and over $12,000 in fines. He also has an arrest warrant out of Dickinson County for violation of probation, where he was ordered to two years probation for failure to affix drug stamp and a controlled substance violation.
