Feb. 13 — A resident of 83rd Street in Hillman reported that the locks had been cut off a garage at their residence, although it did not appear that someone had entered the building.

Feb. 13 — A resident of Highway 25 in Buckman reported a burglary.

Feb. 14 — A resident of Little Falls reported a scam in which someone claiming to be with Publishers Clearing House told the victim they had just won $3.5 million and a new car. The caller started asking for personal information.

Feb. 14 — Someone on 260th Avenue in Royalton reported a theft.

Feb. 15 — Someone from Little Falls called to reported they had damaged a sign on Haven Road with their car.

Feb. 16 — A business in Bowlus reported a case of fraud.

Feb. 16 — A resident of Scandia Drive in Cushing reported an assault.

Feb. 17 — Someone reported that someone claiming to be from Publisher’s Clearing house called to say the victim had won a new car and $5,000 a week for life. The caller allegedly said the victim needed to go to Walmart and send him $300.

Cody Michael VanZee, 21, Hillman, was charged Feb. 5 with one felony count of third-degree assault.

According to the criminal complaint, the Morrison County Sheriff’s Department was contacted in December 2015 about a party that had occurred involving underaged drinking.

At the party, a minor alleged that VanZee grabbed the minor’s drink and smashed it, at which point the minor pushed VanZee, causing him to fall.

VanZee later allegedly retaliated by coming up from behind the victim and punching him in the jaw. As the victim fell to the ground, VanZee continued to hit him until he was pulled away by another person.

The victim stated that he knew his jaw was broken, and an oral surgeon later confirmed that it was broken in two places.

Witnesses at the party confirmed the victim’s story, and the officers were shown text messages in which VanZee apologized to the victim for what he did.

If convicted, VanZee faces up to five years in prison and/or $10,000 in fines.

Tyler Guy Lillemoe, 19, Little Falls, was charged Feb. 10 with one felony count of violating a restraining order.

According to the criminal complaint, a restraining order was issued July 28, 2015, preventing Lillemoe from having any contact with a victim or being within 200 feet of the victim’s residence. While the order was later modified to allow some contact, it still prohibited Lillemoe from visiting the victim’s residence.

On Dec. 25, 2015, Lillemoe was observed driving to the victim’s residence. He allegedly drove up to the residence, exited his vehicle and entered the home without knocking or announcing himself. Lillemoe allegedly obtained some personal belongings from the home and then left.

Lillemoe’s criminal history shows two previous convictions for violating restraining orders in August 2015.

If convicted, Lillemoe faces up to five years imprisonment and/or $10,000 in fines.

Marvin Clark, 49, Claremont, was charged Feb. 12 with one felony count of third-degree possession of heroin, prescription pills and cocaine; Angeena Kay Renee English, 28, Minneapolis was charged Feb. 12 with fifth-degree possession of cocaine and heroin in connection to the same incident.

According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 11, law enforcement on routine patrol observed a vehicle traveling at an unusually slow rate of speed. The driver appeared to slow even further as the vehicle passed the officer and a female passenger appeared to not be wearing a seat belt.

The officer ran the license plate of the vehicle and found that the registered owner had an active order for protection prohibiting contact with a female party.The officer instigated a traffic stop, noting that the female passenger appeared to make furtive movements as the suspect vehicle came to a stop, stowing her purse in the back of the vehicle.

The driver, identified as Clark, stated the vehicle was his and that the order for protection was not for this female passenger.

The female passenger, identified as English, appeared to have constricted pupils and slow speech indicative of narcotic use.

While searching for identification, English opened her purse and the officer observed in plain sight in the purse a small bottle of clear liquid with no label, as well as used cotton swabs.

The officer asked English about the items, at which point she allegedly closed the purse and attempted to set it down.

The officer then took the purse so the suspicious items could not be removed or destroyed.

The officer then asked Clark to exit the vehicle and spoke with him.

During the interaction, Clark allegedly avoided eye contact with the officer.

It was found that Clark was on probation, the conditions of which included random searches of his person and vehicle.

A search of English’s purse found three hypodermic needles, one of which tested positive for heroin, and two pipes of the type used to smoke crack cocaine.

In the trunk of the vehicle officers found a tennis shoe containing a small baggie of powdery residue and a scale, as well as a can.

The can was found to be a “false can” of the type used to conceal contraband.

It contained a small baggie of substance which field-tested positive for cocaine, a bag of a substance which field-tested positive for heroin and prescription pills.

The cocaine was measured and found to weigh approximately 3.4 grams. The heroin weighed approximately 2.2 grams.

The pills were identified as Percocet, a Schedule II controlled substance.

If convicted, Clark faces between two and 30 years in prison and/or up to $250,000 in fines for the third-degree possession charge.

English faces up to 10 years in prison and/or $20,000 in fines for the fifth-degree possession charge.

Thirty-seven years ago, when I was a member of the State Capitol press corps, the House of Representatives was tied between Republicans and Democrats, 67 each. The Republicans had come back from their Watergate swoon in the 1978 election, and more than 30 of their members were newcomers.

I recall talking to Rep. Terry Dempsey, R-New Ulm, one night late in the session. Dempsey was one of the brighter bulbs among the freshmen, didn’t make a career of the Legislature and went on to be a district court judge. But that night, he said that it was fascinating to watch the lawmaking process up close. He said that he and the other freshmen really didn’t have much to do because the process was tightly controlled by the senior leaders of each caucus.

Last spring, the very same arguments were still being raised, with some members of both parties complaining that Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, D-Cook, and Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, were making some of the deals without consulting with their caucuses. The power was too concentrated went the lament.

Not much has changed in 37 years.

After an election, the Legislature usually convenes in the first week in January and works until a week before Memorial Day. However, the first two months are relatively easy, taking Fridays off and mostly attending receptions and banquets in the evenings.

As committee deadlines near in mid-March, the work becomes more frantic as various legislators suddenly realize that time is running out on getting their pet bills heard. Sometimes those who know how to work the system figure out ways, even after their bill fails to get a hearing, to attach it to one that did.

By the last few weeks of the session, lawmakers are meeting late into the night on little sleep, passing bills that only a few or maybe nobody has read in their entirety and generally acting in a manne that increases the likelihood they will enact laws that will come back to bite them.

Just last week, rural lawmakers were negotiating with Gov. Dayton because the law passed for his buffer zone plan said one thing when they meant another. (This is not unlike the Supreme Court ruling last summer that resulted because the Affordable Care Act said that people living in states without their own health exchange did not qualify for federal subsidies, when that wasn’t the intent.) Such sloppy lawmaking is a result of the chaotic environment.

I think the chaos is not overtly intentional. It’s difficult to chair a committee or manage a body in which all of the members are beholden only to a third party (the voters) and not you. Time management skills are critical, especially when some members would rather hear themselves speak than act.

A couple of weeks ago, former Speaker of the House and current House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, D-Minneapolis, came through Central Minnesota, and among his messages was his plan to make it more likely that the Legislature ends up passing sound laws.

Hard as it is for outsiders to understand the reality of legislative sessions, his plan would give members an opportunity to know enough about what they are voting on to cast an informed ballot. Thissen said, “Minnesotans I’ve heard from are frustrated by a lack of transparency and a sense that special interests are pulling strings behind the scenes.”

To change that, Thissen’s laundry list includes:

1. Require all conference committee reports and House votes on concurrence with the Senate version of bills to be published 24 hours in advance of a vote taking place.

2. Require 12 hours notification before a conference committee votes to adopt a bill.

3. Allow conference committees to take public testimony.

4. Forbid the House from meeting past midnight except for the last two weeks of the session. (I don’t think that one goes far enough. I think the Legislature should be forbidden from meeting between midnight and 8 a.m. – ever. What public interest is served by having our public servants so sleep deprived, that they can’t even see straight? Every few years, one of them ends up hospitalized for exhaustion or a stress-related heart attack.)

5. Require adoption of joint budget targets no later than 14 days before adjournment.

6. Except for major finance bills, require that no bill may address more than one subject. That would reduce some of the “gotcha” votes — such as making legislators vote on a bill that is both against child abuse and reduces drug dealers’ sentences..

7. Limit omnibus budget bills to only budget items;  don’t complicate matters by larding them down with social policy provisions.

8. Require a one-year moratorium before former legislators, judges and cabinet-level commissioners are allowed to lobby.

9. End the Legislature’s exemption from the Data Practices Act.

10. Require the House to publish monthly all information regarding per diem, mileage, housing stipends and committee budgets.

As the minority leader, the chances that Thissen’s proposals will even get a hearing are slim. Nevertheless, these proposals are not partisan based. They are more about good government.

If Republicans don’t like all of the provisions, then they should come up with their own list. Both sides should set aside their differences, at least for a moment, and do something to restore trust in government. In this hyperpartisan age, Lord knows, we need that.

Tom West is the editor and general manager of the Record. Reach him at (320) 616-1932 or email tom.west@mcrecord.com.

With minimal snow this winter and warming February temperatures, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) anticipates early snow melt. This means annual burning restrictions will take effect shortly after snowmelt occurs to help prevent wildfires.

“In Minnesota, 98 percent of wildfires are caused by humans and burning debris is the number one cause,” said Linda Gormanson, DNR fire prevention supervisor. “Therefore, the DNR encourages using alternatives to debris burning such as composting and mulching whenever possible.”

Historically in Minnesota, the highest number of wildfires occurs in April and May. The DNR initiates burning restrictions to coincide with this annual “fire season,” which occurs just after annual snow melt. This year, snow melt could be as early as March in some areas.

According to the DNR, past spring fire restrictions have dramatically decreased the number and size of accidental fires.

Once spring fire restrictions are in place, permits to burn vegetative debris will not be issued until summer green-up occurs. Restrictions normally last from four to six weeks but are dependent on the weather.

Homeowners who choose to burn yard waste should do so under the safest conditions—that is when the ground is snow covered. Three inches or more of continuous snow cover drastically reduces the chance a fire will escape and burn unintended areas. Even though the DNR may not require a burning permit when snow covers the ground, residents should check local requirements as many cities and municipalities may still require a permit.

Visit the DNR wildfire website www.mndnr.gov/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html for current fire danger rating and burning permit restrictions. 

Erik Blanco, 33, and Brenda Rahn, 33,  both of Long Prairie, were arrested Thursday afternoon on suspicion of possessing a stolen firearm, and for possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction.

According to the Morrison County Sheriff’s Department, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Culdrum Township, based on a investigation by the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force.

During the search, a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun was found. The gun had been reported stolen from a residence in Browerville in early February.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Todd County Sheriff’s Office and Little Falls Police Department were included in the investigation.

Blanco and Rahn are currently being held in the Morrison County Jail awaiting formal charges.

Jason Frederick Harrison, 36, Pierz, was charged with one felony count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor between 13 and 16 years old and one felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a significant relationship with the victim over time.

According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 16, the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of a sexual assault of a juvenile female.

The victim, who is 17 years old, alleged that she had been being assaulted by Harrison for several years.

Officers took a taped statement from the victim in which she allegedly that she had lived with her mother and Harrison for approximately five years.

The victim said she was 12 years old when Harrison began initiating sexual contact, which eventually included intercourse.

The victim alleged that this occurred approximately 10 times since August 2015.

Officers contacted Harrison, who allegedly denied having sexual contact with the victim.

However, he allegedly admitted that sexual activity did occur approximately 10 time and said the victim was approximately 14 years old when it began.

If convicted, Harrison faces up to 30 years in prison and/or $40,000 in fines for the first-degree charge and up to 15 years in prison and/or $30,000 in fines for the third-degree charge.

Jamie Marie Kreiner, 25, Motley, was convicted Monday in Morrison County District Court of one felony count of issuing dishonored checks worth more than $2,000.

According to the criminal complaint, on July 3, 2013, the owner of a business in Morrison County met with law enforcement to report that Kreiner had issues 18 checks to the business that came back as having insufficient funds.

The total amount of the checks was $2,031.94.

A notice and demand for payment was sent to Kreiner on June 21, 2013, and Kreiner gave no response.

In a statement to law enforcement, Kreiner acknowledged making multiple purchases from the business and paying with checks written to overdrawn accounts.

Kreiner was sentenced to 13 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,166 in fines, of which $2,031 was restitution.

Stefan Scott Tucker, 42, Little Falls, was convicted Feb. 17 in Morrison County District Court of two felony counts of fifth-degree possession of methamphetamine and two misdemeanor counts of theft.

According to the criminal complaint, on June 6, 2015, law enforcement observed a parked vehicle and recognized it from prior contact as belonging to Tucker, who had a warrant out for his arrest.

An officer observed a male subject laying face down in the back seat of the vehicle. When the officer shined his flashlight into the vehicle, the man raised his head and was identified as Tucker.

Tucker was placed under arrest, during which the officer observed a baggie of what appeared to be marijuana inside the vehicle.

A subsequent search of the vehicle found another small baggie of a crystal-like substance that appeared to be methamphetamine. The substance later tested positive as such.

For the first felony count, Tucker was sentenced to 15 months in prison, stayed for 10 years, 10 years probation and 110 days in jail, with credit for 110 days served. He was fined $185.

For the second count, Tucker was sentenced to 15 months in prison, stayed for 10 years, 10 years probation and 108 days in jail, with credit for 108 days served, concurrent with the other case. He was also fined $135.

For one misdemeanor, Tucker was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 60 days to be stayed for one year and credit for 30 days served. He was also sentenced to one year of probation and fined $135.

For the other misdemeanor, he was fined $135.

Tucker had one misdemeanor count of fleeing a peace officer dismissed as part of a plea bargain.

Catarina Marie Gordon, 22, Naytahwaush, was charged Monday with one felony count of fifth-degree possession of heroin.

According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 19, law enforcement on routine patrol in Motley observed a vehicle without functioning taillights and conducted a traffic stop.

The driver of the suspect vehicle was identified as Gordon.

While speaking with Gordon, the officer noted a strong odor of marijuana. One of the passengers allegedly admitted he had smoked marijuana in the vehicle earlier that day.

The officer then conducted a search of the vehicle and found a used syringe and a spoon containing a burnt residue.

Gordon allegedly admitted that the items belonged to her and that she had used them to shoot up heroin.

The spoon and syringe later field-tested positive for heroin.

Gordon’s criminal history shows a previous conviction for fifth-degree drug possession in 2014.

If convicted, Gordon will face up to 10 years in prison and/or $20,000 in fines.

Nikki Jean Schneider, 30, Randall, was charged Monday with one felony count of fifth-degree possession of methamphetamine.

According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 19, law enforcement received a report of a subject acting bizarrely and out of control at a residence in Randall.

An officer arrived at the scene and made contact with Schneider, who answered the door and invited the officer inside.

The officer noted that Schneider was acting very strangely, allegedly talking to people and hearing things that the officer couldn’t see or hear.

Schneider was allegedly complaining that her stomach hurt and she was having an anxiety attack, and appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance.

The officer dispatched an ambulance and Schneider was taken to the hospital. The officer then spoke to Schneider’s probation agent who requested that she be placed under arrest.

While Schneider was being taken into custody, a container fell out of her pocket. Inside was a white residue that appeared to be methamphetamine and later field tested positive as such.

Schneider’s criminal history shows a previous conviction for a fifth-degree controlled substance crime in 2013.

If convicted, Schneider faces up to 10 years in prison and/or $20,000 in fines.

Brian John Prozinski, 45, Cushing, was charged Feb. 17 with one felony count each of second-degree assault with a .22 caliber rifle and for illegal possession of a firearm after a previous conviction for violent crime.

According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 28, a victim contacted the Morrison County Sheriff’s Department to report that Prozinski had assaulted him with a firearm.

The victim alleged that he had gone to Prozinski’s residence in order to pick up his wife, parked outside and sat in his vehicle.

Prozinski allegedly came outside holding a rifle with a flashlight taped to it. He then went back into the residence and returned outside with a beer in his hand.

Prozinski allegedly got into the victim’s car, asked if he was afraid of him, and told the victim he would put a bullet between his eyes.

Prozinski then went back into his residence.

As the victim started to drive away, Prozinski allegedly came back outside, again with the firearm, and shot twice at the victim’s vehicle, striking it once in the driver’s side door.

Officers later observed a dent in the vehicle that appeared consistent with a gunshot.

On Feb. 2, a SWAT team executed a search warrant on Prozinski’s residence to locate any firearms. Officers found a 12 gauge shotgun, and a .22 caliber pistol, both containing live rounds.

Prozinski had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and as a result, cannot legally possess firearms.

On Feb. 15, officers located Prozinski at his residence. Prozinski allegedly fled on foot and was apprehended with help from the State Patrol Aviation Unit and a K-9 team.

Prozinski was apprehended after attempting to climb a tree to evade police.

If convicted, Prozinski faces up to seven years in prison and/or $14,000 in fines for the assault and up to five years in prison and/or $10,000 in fines for the illegal firearm possession.

Cory Michael Wolf, 27, Royalton, was convicted Feb. 18 of one felony count of third-degree possession of methamphetamine in a school zone.

According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 15, 2015, law enforcement in Royalton was asked to check a residence for Wolf, who had an active warrant for his arrest.

An officer was invited into the residence and was given permission to look around for Wolf.

The bedroom door of the residence was locked and the officer knocked and stated that he knew Wolf was there. Wolf eventually opened the door and was placed under arrest.

While Wolf was being taken into custody, the officer noticed a glass meth pipe in plain sight on the desk in the bedroom, as well as a plastic bag containing what appeared to be meth.

Wolf admitted the pipe belonged to him and that he had smoked meth that day. Also in the room were found other glass pipes and paraphernalia and more bags containing what appeared to be meth.

The total weight of the methamphetamine found was measured at 3.43 grams.

Wolf’s residence in Royalton is directly across the street from a school.

Wolf was sentenced to 27 months in prison and fined $135.

Wolf had one felony charged of third-degree meth possession dismissed as part of a plea bargain.

The following people, charged with a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor level crime in Morrison County District Court, have recently been sentenced:

Gross Misdemeanors

•Jesse Taylor Bays, 20, Little Falls (offense: 12/31/15) — dismissed against Bays was one count of obstructing legal process with force.

•Scott Paul Carlson, 40, Royalton (offense: 10/2/15) — obstructing legal process with force, fined $135, sentenced to four days in jail and supervised probation for two years and one misdemeanor count of damage to property – fourth degree – intentional damage, fined concurrent with gross misdemeanor count.

•David John Kimmons, 25, Onamia (offense: 12/2/15) — third degree DWI, fined $985, sentenced to 30 days in jail and supervised probation for four years. Dismissed against Kimmons was gross misdemeanor count of third degree DWI.

•Kayla Candia Bjerke, 19, Hillman (offense: 7/25/15) furnish alcohol to minor, fined $50, sentenced to two days in jail and supervised probation for two years.

•Heidi Marie Sullivan, 38, Little Falls (offense: 7/6/15) — third degree DWI, fined $385, sentenced to 30 days in jail and supervised probation for four years. Dismissed against Sullivan was one gross misdemeanor count of second degree DWI. Also one gross misdemeanor count of obstructing legal process with force, fined $135, sentenced to 30 days in jail, fine concurrent with other case. Dismissed against Sullivan was one gross misdemeanor count of fourth degree assault – peace officer – physically assaults.

Misdemeanors

•Dustin James Dombovy 30, Brainerd (offense: 7/9/15) —  domestic abuse – violate order of protection, fined $385, sentenced to 180 days in jail and supervised probation for two years.

•McKenzie Sue Anderson, 20, Little Falls (offense: 11/7/15) — speed – exceed limit of 80/45, fined $235, sentenced to two days in jail and unsupervised probation for one year.

•Paul Leo Baron, 46, Browerville (offense: 9/30/15) careless driving (mandatory court if accident or injury) fined $443.50, sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Robert James Dunham Devereaux, 33, Swanville, was charged Feb. 17 with one felony count each of fourth-degree assault of a peace officer and receiving stolen property, and one misdemeanor charge of fleeing a peace officer.

According to the criminal complaint, on Feb. 14, an employee of a business in Swanville reported that a suspicious vehicle had been parked at the pumps of the gas station, with a person in the driver’s seat, for about half an hour without pumping any gas.

The driver allegedly appeared to be slumped over in his seat.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene and contacted the driver, identified as Devereaux, who was slouched in the driver’s seat with the vehicle running.

Devereaux allegedly appeared paranoid, with glossy eyes and extremely constricted pupils.

The officer observed a pipe in the center console of the vehicle and could smell an odor of burnt marijuana, leading him to believe Devereaux was under the influence of a narcotic.

The officer asked Devereaux to step out of the vehicle, noting that he had several knives and a hatchet visible on his person. The officer asked Devereaux to remove the items for the officer’s safety.

Devereaux allegedly refused to perform a sobriety test and when asked to turn around and put his hands on the vehicle, Devereaux allegedly fled.

The officer told Devereaux to stop and informed him he was under arrest, and was able to apprehend him.

An altercation allegedly ensued in which Devereaux resisted arrest, biting and kicking the officer. He was eventually placed in handcuffs, and two more knives were located and removed from his pocket.

The officer was later taken to a hospital for injuries which included a scratched eye and abrasions on his hands and knees.

Devereaux’s vehicle was later found to be reported stolen out of Benton County. Approximately 34 edged weapons and knife sharpening tools were taken from the vehicle as evidence, as well as drug paraphernalia with residue.

If convicted, Devereaux up to five years in prison and/or $10,000 in fines for each felony and up to 90 days in jail and/or $1,000 in fines for the misdemeanor.

Sean Lee Shake, 27, Motley, was convicted Feb. 17 in Morrison County District Court of one felony count of domestic assault.

According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 8, 2015, law enforcement responded to a report of a domestic assault at a motel.

The victim stated she had been assaulted by Shake. She said when she arrived home at 11 a.m., Shake had been drinking and was agitated and began to argue with the victim, accusing her of cheating on him.

The victim attempted to leave, but Shake took her keys and blocked the door to prevent her from doing so. Shake also grabbed and pushed the victim, leaving marks on her wrist and arms.

The victim said her one year old daughter was present and Shake at one point pushed the child down while attempting to restrain the victim.

Shake also made statements suggesting he was suicidal.

Shake also tried to take the victim’s phone to prevent her from calling for help.

The victim eventually said she was calling law enforcement, and Shake left when he thought an officer was about to arrive.

Shake’s criminal history shows previous convictions for interference with an emergency call and domestic assault in February 2013.

Shake was given as stay of imposition and sentenced to five years probation and 37 days in jail, with credit for 37 days already served. He was also fined $185.

Shake had one felony count of false imprisonment dismissed as part of a plea bargain.

By Gabby Landsverk, Staff Writer

This is the last story of a three-part series on the Morrison County Drug Court program. 

Meeting Wayne Schleppenbach, with his imposing figure, tattoos and wild mane of graying hair, few people would be surprised to learn he was once involved in drugs.

These days, however, Schleppenbach is a gentle giant (the moniker “Marshmallow Biker” is prominently tattooed on his forearm) and works as the chemical services director at Northern Pines. He launched a career in helping addicts from his personal experience.

“I have 26 years of experience in the field, but I’ve been living it for more than 50 years,” Schleppenbach said. He currently has nearly 32 years of sobriety.

When Schleppenbach works with the “high risk” cases of Drug Court, he knows what he’s talking about — he was one of them.

“I had been through the treatment circuit, been incarcerated,” Schleppenbach said, citing a sordid past fraught with substance abuse, starting with getting drunk with his father on his first birthday.

His struggles, however, have given him a unique glimpse into what drives people to use drugs; and more importantly, what can help them quit.

It’s an age-old question of nature versus nurture, Schleppenbach said, whether a person involved in criminal behavior is product of their environment.

He said while a negative upbringing can foster drug abuse, as it did in his case, that isn’t true for everyone and every client of Drug Court has unique needs and circumstances.

“Addiction doesn’t discriminate. Addicts and alcoholics can come from great families,” Schleppenbach said. “There’s a saying in treatment: ‘I am not responsible for my disease, but I am responsible for my recovery … I used to think, ‘What a beautiful cop-out.’”

Over time, however, he’s understood the significance of the phrase, and how important accountability is for addicts.

He said it can be an invaluable perspective for someone who may be too ashamed to face the consequences of their past actions under the influence.

“I was scared as hell — I knew what it was like to be a drunk, but I didn’t have any idea what being sober would be like,” Schleppenbach said.

He said many participants in Drug Court for the first time are there to avoid prison time, what they think of as “beating the system.”

Even if they don’t start for the right reasons, he said, the program can help mediate the disorienting effects of constant drug use to let people take a good, hard look at their lives.

“When a person’s high, morality’s out the window and fear’s out the window … sometimes they have to be held accountable to have the opportunity to see if they want to change,” Schleppenbach said. “You can only fake it for so long before the real person comes out.”

Shane Ganley, community support officer, also came to Drug Court as a recovered alcoholic.

“The only difference between me and any of them is time,” Ganley said.

Schleppenbach said empathy, not sympathy or pity, is the key to reaching people overcome by addiction.

To this end, Schleppenbach uses his own experience and his presentation to his advantage, relating to clients on a personal level.

“I can sit down with them and say, ‘What the hell’s up, dude,’” Schleppenbach said. “They appreciate that concreteness and transparency.”

Ganley added that a personal experience with addiction or criminal behavior isn’t necessary, but having an open mind and a willingness to listen is.

“The folks in Drug Court, they’ve never had anyone in their corner,” Ganley said. “Our policy is honesty first — if you tell me what’s going on, I’ll help you figure it out.”

Schleppenbach said that this sense of openness, and responsibility on behalf of the participants, is what makes Drug Court work.

“Drug Court is successful with recovery because it’s a long-term accountability program. … It’s a multi-disciplinary system, so it balances everyone out,” Schleppenbach said. He added that the social services side of Drug Court offers tools for addicts to change their lives, while the legal side offers consequences if they fail to do so.

Probation agent Breanna Germaine, who joined Drug Court from a law enforcement background, said that it’s a careful combination of support and tough love, providing the tools to improve their lives and giving them the choice to do so.

“If they’re not willing to use those tools, you have to let them go,” she said.

Ganley agreed that small goals are crucial for people in treatment, since Drug Court, or even sobriety itself, can be overwhelming at first.

Germaine said the experience is intense not only for participants, but for staff who become deeply invested in their clients.

“We know these people. We’ve met their families, their kids. We’re really involved in their lives,” Germaine said.

The result, she said was an incredibly proud, but bittersweet, moment when the first graduate, Malissa Strack, completed the program.

“We’re going to miss her around here,” Germaine said. “She didn’t just help herself, she changed the whole dynamic of her family and people around her.”

That means the program is doing its job, she added, by giving clients intensive, holistic support to they can eventually manage on their own.

The core philosophy of Drug Court, Ganley said, is this “restorative justice” — to help, not punish, participants who have run out of other options.

“It’s more therapeutic than it is punitive,” Ganley said. “It’s for those people, like myself, that the odds say aren’t going to make it.”

He said as a general rule, there are three kinds of people who come to Drug Court; some will succeed, while others aren’t ready to get sober and end up using again or in prison. The rest fall somewhere in between, and those are the people most in need of the support Drug Court can provide.

Schleppenbach said it’s important for the newly sober to set achievable goals, a viable date to strive toward.

“When I wanted to quit, someone said to me, ‘Just give it two years,’” Schleppenbach said. “It took me two years to be honest with myself that I could be better.”

Schleppenbach said if participants are skeptical of treatment, it can be effective to tell them that, if being sober doesn’t work, they can go right back to their old habits.

“You’re giving them a choice between the pure fricking hell of addiction and becoming a productive member of society,” Schleppenbach said. “When the time’s up and you don’t like being sober, we’ll gladly refund your misery.”

Few people take him up on this offer, Schleppenbach said. He thinks of these as “casualties,” the ones who end up in prison or dead as a result of their drug use.

While the goal of Drug Court is to reduce these as much as possible, Schleppenbach, Ganley and Germaine agreed there will always be those who aren’t ready or willing to change.

“What I’ve come to terms with is that sometimes, it just ain’t someone’s time,” Ganley said. “Sometimes they have to hit another brick wall before they can recover.”

He said when someone does recover against all odds, however, it’s a huge victory not only for them but for the Drug Court and the community as a whole.

“We’re breaking stereotypes when people say they’re not going to change,” Ganley said.

Germaine said this is what keeps staff involved in the program, despite the challenges.

“When they realize their life has changed for the better, that moment is why we do what we do,” Germaine said.

Ganley agreed.

“I don’t like to see people go through pain, but sometimes it’s a good thing because that’s what they’ve been running from their whole lives,” Ganley said. “The reward is, if they pull through, we’re able to have walked that journey with them.”

Schleppenbach said that helping others overcome their addictions is a consistent affirmation of his own hard-won sobriety, part of the work he and others in recovery continue to fight for every day.

“You can never keep it unless you give it away,” Schleppenbach said of sobriety. “The destination? Hell no, it’s the journey.”

Justin Lloyd Klemish, 29, Little Falls, was convicted Feb. 24 in Morrison County District Court of one felony count of third-degree possession of methamphetamine in a school/park/public housing zone.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 20, 2015, law enforcement received a report of a vehicle near Belle Prairie Park, a county park. A male suspect inside the vehicle was observed holding what appeared to be a gun.
Officers responding to the report drove to the park and met with the complainant, who stated that the suspect who had the gun had walked onto a trail at around the same time as law enforcement had arrived.
The officers located the suspect vehicle and observed four individuals leaving a wooded area and approaching the vehicle. An officer told the suspects to put their hands up, at which point Klemish stated he had an airsoft gun in his backpack.
Law enforcement opened the backpack and found the airsoft gun, which was painted black in order to resemble a handgun. The search also turned up several bags containing drug paraphernalia, as well as a glass pipe which later tested positive for methamphetamine.
Klemish was taken into custody for possession, and further inventory of his backpack found numerous baggies containing a white substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.
Klemish’s criminal record shows a previous controlled substance crime conviction from 2006.
For the felony count, Klemish was sentenced to 33 months in prison, stayed for 10 years, with credit for 104 days served. He was also fined $50.

Christopher Hart Hamlin, 39, Little Falls, was convicted Tuesday in Morrison County District Court of one felony count of fifth-degree possession of methamphetamine.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 14, 2015, at approximately 9:21 p.m., an office on routine patrol observed a small pickup truck pull to the right of the road.
The officer approached the driver, who identified himself as Hamlin, and noted Hamlin appeared to be avoiding eye contact with the officer and his passenger was sweating profusely. The two claimed to be parked on the side of the road looking for agates.
The officer performed a consented search and found a hollowed-out pen inside the passenger door which contained marijuana residue, two pipes with methamphetamine residue were also located. One was near the radio and another under Hamlin’s seat. Also near the seat the officer found a plastic container, which contained a plastic baggie with methamphetamine in it.
For the felony count, Hamlin was sentenced to five years of probation. His 180 minimum jail sentence was waived, and instead, Hamlin will be required to participate in drug court.
He will also pay $185 in fines and fees.