Secret Service agent sentenced for drunken driving

By Sarah Strandberg, Correspondent

DECORAH - A Secret Service agent who was in Decorah in advance of President Barack Obama's August visit has been sentenced in Winneshiek County District Court for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Daniel Valencia, 40, of Washington, D.C., was arrested by a Decorah police officer on patrol at about 1:30 a.m. Aug. 13. The president was in town two days later as part of a three-day Midwestern bus trip.

Valencia was represented at Friday's sentencing by his attorney, Karl Knudson of Decorah, who filed court documents withdrawing his client's not-guilty plea and entering his written Alford plea. Under such a plea, a defendant doesn't admit guilt but agrees that enough evidence likely exists for a conviction.

Valencia was sentenced to two days in jail, with credit for time served after his arrest, and was fined $1,250 and ordered to pay court costs.

According to an affidavit, Valencia was off duty and driving on Water Street when he ran a red light. He was stopped by a police officer who said Valencia's breath had a “strong odor” of alcohol and his eyes were bloodshot and watery.

When asked if he had been drinking, the affidavit said, Valencia responded that he'd had two drinks. Field sobriety testing indicated signs of impairment, but Valencia refused a preliminary breath test. He was arrested and taken to the Winneshiek County Jail.