Longtime Newport deli co-owner Mark Tinucci Sr. has cut a deal in a serious hit-and-run case that could keep him out of jail. Under a court-negotiated plea, Tinucci would plead guilty to a gross-misdemeanor count of criminal vehicular operation and serve two years of probation, with no jail time spelled out in the agreement. In exchange, prosecutors would drop an earlier felony charge tied to an Aug. 16, 2025, crash that left a Woodbury e-bike rider gravely injured. A Washington County judge will decide on July 6 whether to accept the deal.
Plea terms and court timeline
According to the Star Tribune, 70-year-old Mark Thomas Tinucci Sr. agreed on April 22 to plead guilty to a gross-misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation charge, while prosecutors would dismiss a felony-level count. The written plea agreement calls for two years of probation, leaving any additional sentencing terms “up to the court” at the July 6 hearing in Washington County District Court.
Crash, injuries and what investigators say
According to the criminal complaint in the case, deputies were called around 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 16, 2025, and found 59-year-old Carl Lawrence Haydel Jr. with bleeding on the brain, multiple upper-body fractures and a torn carotid artery. Witnesses reported that Haydel was crossing in a marked crosswalk on the Maxwell Avenue overpass above I-494 when an SUV hit him at what they described as a significant rate of speed. They also told investigators they saw a “Tinucci’s” sticker on the vehicle.
The complaint states the driver briefly checked on Haydel, said, “I did not see him,” then left for a catering job before returning to the scene. The defendant’s attorney has told reporters that “Mr. Tinucci has great remorse for his actions.”
Tinucci’s place in the community
Tinucci’s Catering, Deli & Events, a family-run restaurant in Newport, lists its address as 396 21st Street and advertises both a deli counter and catering services. The family has operated the business since the early 1990s and continues to keep the doors open while the criminal case moves through court, according to Tinucci’s.
Legal context and what a gross misdemeanor means
Minnesota law treats criminal vehicular operation differently depending on the level of injury and the driver’s conduct. Some CVO offenses are charged as felonies, while others fall into the gross-misdemeanor category, with penalties that vary accordingly. A gross-misdemeanor conviction often brings probation, fines or other court-imposed conditions rather than a multiyear prison term, although higher-level CVO charges can carry significantly stiffer consequences. The statutory language and penalty ranges are outlined by the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
What’s next
Tinucci, prosecutors and defense attorneys are due back in Washington County District Court on July 6 for sentencing before Judge Siv Mjanger. At that hearing, the judge will decide whether to accept the negotiated plea and will set the final terms of Tinucci’s sentence. Any victim impact statements, additional filings from lawyers or other court documents filed beforehand will become part of the public record as the case inches toward a conclusion.
