Steinhauer

An Albert Lea man has been charged in the May 29 fatal accident that took the life of a Blue Earth man.

Jose Ignacio Martinez, 48, was killed when his motorcycle crashed into a car that allegedly ran a stop sign.

Martin-ez was on work release and returning home from his job at Albert Lea Seed House when the accident occurred.Last week, the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office charged Marvin William Steinhauer with three counts of criminal vehicular homicide while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

The maximum penalty for each charge is 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

In addition, he also faces two charges of driving while intoxicated. The maximum penalty for each charge is 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

According to a Freeborn County Court complaint, the accident happened around 6:20 p.m.

Martinez was traveling west on his Honda motorcycle, says the complaint, when it struck a car that did not stop for a stop sign on County Road 46 near the intersection of 700th Avenue — four miles west of Albert Lea.

Authorities interviewed three witnesses at the scene who said Steinhauer ran through a stop sign.

The complaint says Steinhauer told a deputy he had just left a bar in Conger and admitted to having a couple of whiskey drinks.

Deputies gave Steinhauer a breath test and results indicated a blood-alcohol level of .086 — above the legal limit of .08.

A blood sample sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension came back with a blood-alcohol content of .08.

Steinhauer’s first court appearance in Freeborn County is set for Aug. 11.

In February, Martinez pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor assault charges and one count of obstructing the legal process, also a misdemeanor.

At the time of his death, he needed 30 days to complete two-thirds of a 360-day jail term. He was scheduled to be released on June 29.