Trejean Curry Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide Following 2021 Fatal Crash in Rosemount
ROSEMOUNT, MINNESOTA - The Dakota County Attorney's Office announced this afternoon that 28-year-old Trejean Derrel Curry of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has pleaded guilty to one count of criminal vehicular homicide (gross negligence) in connection with the death of Reverand Dennis "Denny" Dempsey who was a priest at the Burnsville, Minnesota Church of the Risen Savior. The announcement states that Judge Dannia Edwards ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set the sentencing hearing for Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 1:30 PM in Hastings, Minnesota.
Father Dennis Dempsey Photo by Church of St. Dominic/Facebook
During the afternoon of Monday, October 25, 2021, officers with the Rosemount Police Department responded to calls of an accident that involved a car versus a bicyclist on County Road 42 just west of Auburn Avenue in Rosemount, Minnesota. When officers arrived on the scene of the crash, they found a non-responsive male, who would later be identified as 73-year-old Dennis Keith Dempsey. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to the criminal complaint. The driver of the car was identified as Curry, the complaint stated.
According to the criminal complaint, accident reconstruction shows that Curry was estimated to be traveling between 54-63 mph before the crash, with a posted speed limit on that road being 55 mph. They also analyzed his phone and found that leading up to the crash, Curry's phone screen was on, and a music application was in use. Records also show a text message from Curry was sent shortly after the accident: "Just got in a accident biker got in the way."
A search warrant was executed for Curry's blood, which showed no alcohol or controlled substances were detected. Records did show that Curry's driver's license was also revoked at the time of the crash.
We reached out to the Dakota County Attorney's Office on the plea deal for Curry, and they stated that a pre-plea investigation was conducted by the Dakota County Community Corrections, which recommended that Curry get a probationary sentence. According to the Dakota County Attorney's office, as long as Curry complies with the conditions of his release and remains law-abiding, the State agreed that Curry would get a 5-year probation period, serve 40 hours of community work service, and serve a 150-day jail sentence. This sentence can be served in 30-day increments through the probation period. Additionally, Curry could request to get the jail time converted to community work service. Before the sentencing can occur, though, Curry must comply with an updated presentence investigation.
Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena made the following statement following the guilty plea deal:
'“Father Dempsey’s death serves as yet another tragic and painful reminder as to why it’s so extremely important for drivers to give their full attention to the road when they get behind the wheel. My sincere condolences to the friends, family members and loved ones of Father Dempsey.”
Dakota County Jail
