By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondent 

A man convicted of vehicular homicide five years ago when he killed Jon Niemann, a Scott County Deputy and Prior Lake firefighter, on Interstate 494 in Plymouth may finally see prison time.

Jason Richard Reese, 26, was back in Hennepin County court on Jan. 5, when he admitted to violating the conditions of his probation following a fourth-degree possession of marijuana conviction, a felony, last year in Nebraska, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

Following the 2004 vehicular homicide conviction, Reese was sentenced to serve eight months in jail and 10 years of probation, but sentencing may not be so lenient this time around.

Hennepin County District Court Judge Warren Sagstuen gave Reese a week to get his affairs in order under police supervision and return to Hennepin County District Court at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 12 for sentencing. Reese faces a maximum of four years in prison for violating the condition of his probation, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

On Dec. 30, 2003, Niemann, 37, a husband, and father of two children, was killed in a four-car crash on Interstate 494 in Plymouth after dropping his son off at a friend’s house.

Reese was driving north on 494 just after 10 p.m., when he crossed the median and hit Niemann’s pick-up truck along with two other vehicles traveling in the southbound lane. Reese’s blood alcohol content was .13.

Niemann was pronounced dead at the scene. Reese was transported to North Memorial Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries and held for observation. A third driver was treated for injuries, and the fourth driver refused treatment.

 Shawn Hogendorf can be reached at (952) 345-6374 or shogendorf@swpub.com.