Ex-Minnesota Lottery executive pleads guilty in car-crash case

Oct 27, 2015, 9:18 am (7 comments)

Minnesota Lottery

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A former top Minnesota Lottery official suing over her termination pleaded guilty Monday to a drunken-driving charge stemming from a serious car crash last December.

Johnene Canfield pleaded guilty in Ramsey County District Court to gross a misdemeanor charge of failing to submit to a chemical test. She paid a $715 fine, agreed to 30 days in an out-of-custody sentence-to-service program and committed to perform 100 hours of additional community service. Additional penalties were stayed pending completion of three years of probation without other criminal or alcohol-related offenses. Two other charges were dismissed.

"Ms. Canfield is very relieved to have closure to this incident," said her attorney, Lis Carlson. "She has made great strides in her sobriety, she has completed treatment and is going to AA."

Canfield, 47, had been with the lottery since it launched in 1989 and had risen through the ranks to become assistant lottery director. She supervised three dozen employees and was in charge when the director was away.

Following the daytime car accident that seriously injured an elderly man, Canfield was placed on administrative leave. She was fired months later. She sued the lottery earlier this month, saying she was subjected to gender discrimination and that it should have treated her alcoholism as a protected disability.

Canfield contends that she received mixed messages from her superiors about alcohol use and had been "condoned and encouraged" by Lottery Director Ed Van Petten to drink with him when they traveled together to conferences in recent years. She said she was punished more severely than male managers who violated workplace rules.

She is seeking damages and reinstatement to her $100,000-a-year post.

In a filing late last week, state lawyers denied the discrimination and moved to dismiss her lawsuit.

"Defendant had legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for each of the actions or decisions challenged in the complaint," wrote Ian Welsh and Kathryn Fodness, both assistant attorneys general. They added, "Plaintiff's damages, if any, were caused by her own actions."

A hearing in the civil case is set for Dec. 23.

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Pioneer Press

Comments

Erzulieredeyes's avatarErzulieredeyes

Looks like a woman with a lot of problems. She should focus on sobering up and kiss her easy living $100,000 lottery job good-bye.

zephbe's avatarzephbe

She needs to join AA and look for a new career.  No way should she be re-instated.  Wish her the best of luck in getting her self together.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Unhappy I believe that she must have personal and work related problems. There must be a reason for her inability to do her job.

 She should utilize Mass Transit options.

psykomo's avatarpsykomo

                      "Following the daytime car accident that seriously injured an elderly man, Cranfield was placed on administrative leave"

                                                                                                                                                                       Quote: from Lottery Post News

          Look's like she may have taken a Long Liquid Lunch "break"   Sulk Off 

          break.............

                                 break..............

                                                                     break..................

                                                                                              break......................

                                                                                                                                                                             Break.................... Thud

psykomo's avatarpsykomo

Quote: Originally posted by psykomo on Oct 27, 2015

                      "Following the daytime car accident that seriously injured an elderly man, Cranfield was placed on administrative leave"

                                                                                                                                                                       Quote: from Lottery Post News

          Look's like she may have taken a Long Liquid Lunch "break"   Sulk Off 

          break.............

                                 break..............

                                                                     break..................

                                                                                              break......................

                                                                                                                                                                             Break.................... Thud

Let's look at it another way........................................

She hit the Minn. Lottery Jackpot (& did not know it) in avoiding road kill of the

old man.  That act may have upset the AARP don't you think??????????????????

RedStang's avatarRedStang

She looks like a female version of Mike Tyson. If i didn't read this story i'd swear she was a MMA fighter. 

maximumfun's avatarmaximumfun

Quote: Originally posted by psykomo on Oct 27, 2015

Let's look at it another way........................................

She hit the Minn. Lottery Jackpot (& did not know it) in avoiding road kill of the

old man.  That act may have upset the AARP don't you think??????????????????

I Agree! - she also hit the lottery for 100k/yr with that soft job; which she has lost.  boo-hoo

End of comments
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