MINNEAPOLIS — Besides the question of what charge he could face for his alleged role in the Friday night crash in Minneapolis that killed five young women, several other questions have arisen regarding Derrick John Thompson — including how he could have a valid Minnesota driver's license after a 2020 conviction in California for a hit-and-run that permanently disabled a woman.
"In every case, you are hoping for rehabilitation. In every case, you are hoping somebody changes," said Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Sabrnoch.
Sabrnoch said they didn't offer Thompson a plea bargain, so Thompson pleaded guilty to the most serious charge, which should have affected his ability to get a driver's license.
"A conviction for that offense results in a mandatory revocation of your driving privilege in the state of California," Sabrnoch said.
Minnesota Department of Public Safety officials confirm Thompson applied for a new driver's license in March, but national databases showed his privileges were invalid in another state — presumably California.
Then, on June 7 — nine days before the deadly crash on Lake Street — Minnesota issued Thompson a new driver's license when the database showed his privileges were valid in all states, according to DPS.
DPS did not explain how that happened.
When asked if it sounds like Thompson benefited from a loophole, Sabrnoch said, "I can't necessarily comment on that. All I can say is California, by operation of law, revoked his privilege to operate a motor vehicle."
Besides the issue of his license, there's the question of how Thompson was already free after being sentenced to eight years in prison in California in February 2020. The California Department of Corrections confirmed he was released in January 2023 after serving just three years.
They note that he received 577 days of credit for time spent in county jail first.
Sabrnoch shared another way Thompson's sentence was shortened:
"We have been informed he also attended fire camp, which is a program run by the Department of Corrections where inmates are allowed to receive training in the fighting of wildfires and actually will be dispatched to wildfires," Sabrnoch said. "It is very common for the Department of Corrections to bring crews to the wildfires."
Sabrnoch doesn't know if Thompson actually did fight any California wildfires but confirms it is one of several factors that led to his freedom.
The district attorney sympathizes with the victims' families.
"An incident this horrible, it just devastates a community," he said.
The driver's license issue is very relevant because Thompson was driving a rental car Friday night. According to a search warrant, he is the one who rented the car, and you need a valid driver's license in order to do that.
The question remains: What happened between March and June that caused the database to show he has no flags preventing him from getting a license?
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