Notorious drunken driver back in Detroit Lakes court

DETROIT LAKES, (AP) -- After a year on the run, a Fergus Falls man known as a habitual drunk driver on Friday finally faced charges of escaping from jail.

Daniel Allen Boettcher, 48, appeared at his first arraignment hearing, received a court-appointed attorney and was ordered back to the Becker County jail on a $6,000 bond.

County Attorney Joseph Evans said Boettcher will appear at a second hearing on Dec. 31. An omnibus hearing, where Boettcher will answer the charge, will be scheduled in January.

Boettcher has 23 drunken driving convictions in Minnesota and North Dakota. In August 2000, he escaped from Becker County jail while performing courthouse maintenance in a work release program.

Boettcher then went to Lincoln, Neb., where he was arrested for drunk driving in December last year. Police arrested him this August on a fugitive warrant from Becker County.