NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 23, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Wade Backstrom
218-726-2323 or backstromw@stlouiscountymn.gov
Jesse James Kowalczak Sentenced
Court file #69-DU-CR-22-3396
On January 23, 2026, the Honorable Nicole Hopps sentenced Jesse James Kowalczak, 22, of Proctor, Minnesota, to 48 months in prison, stayed for 5 years of probation, announced St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki. Under the terms of the probationary sentence, Mr. Kowalczak must serve 364 days of local incarceration at the St. Louis County Jail or Northeast Regional Corrections Center. The 364 days of local incarceration will be divided into 5 periods of incarceration to begin annually on the anniversary date of the crime, for the next five years.
Mr. Kowalczak previously entered a guilty plea to Criminal Vehicular Homicide – Operating a Vehicle in a Grossly Negligent Manner for crashing his vehicle into another vehicle on May 13, 2022. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Kowalczak entered a guilty plea to Count 1 - Criminal Vehicular Homicide – Operating a Vehicle in a Grossly Negligent Manner and the State agreed to dismiss Count 2, a lesser charge of Criminal Vehicular Operation. The agreement allowed the Defense to seek a departure from the presumed sentence under the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines. The State did not support the departure but refrained from submitting argument.
The investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol established that Mr. Kowalczak was driving in heavy fog conditions at a rate between 72 and 89 miles per hour on South Ugstad Junction Road. Mr. Kowalczak’s car struck the car driven by Leah Sarko and occupied by her minor son. The crash, which flipped the Sarko’s vehicle, killed Ms. Sarko and severely injured her son.
“Mr. Kowalczak’s grossly negligent act stole a mother and community member from us,” said County Attorney Maki. “In addition, it left lasting physical and mental injuries to Ms. Sarko’s son.”
The St. Louis County Attorney’s Office credits the Minnesota State Patrol for their dedicated and diligent investigation. Their expertise led to the successful outcome in this case.
The case was prosecuted by Duluth Criminal Division Head Nate Stumme.
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