Lola Marie Austin, 45, Pierz has been charged with felony theft in Morrison County District Court.

On Dec. 28, 2016, law enforcement responded to a report of a possible theft of prescription drugs from a Morrison County resident.

According to the criminal complaint, for the last several years, Austin picked up the victim’s prescriptions of hydrocodone, a schedule II controlled substance, and other drugs, before setting up his medications for the week.

An officer went to the victim’s home and looked through his prescriptions, allegedly noticing the bottle of hydrocodone was missing.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim’s doctor said his prescription had recently been filled for December.

On Dec. 29, 2016, investigators spoke with Austin.

She allegedly said she had taken 20-30 of the pills each month for three months.

According to the criminal complaint, Austin said she gave the victim over the counter Tylenol pills as a substitute.

If convicted, Austin faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

Jordan Adam Burstad, 27, Thief River Falls, has been charged with first degree felony drug possession in Morrison County District Court.

On Jan. 21, officers from the Little Falls Police Department received a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road near Riverwood Drive and Haven Road.

The driver, identified as Burstad, was found passed out by the reporting party and once woken drove across Haven Road to a business park and stopped there.

When officers found Burstad, he allegedly said he was trying to get back to Thief River Falls, and denied being passed out or being woken up.

When one of the officers asked him what he was doing in the park, Burstad allegedly told the officer he was looking for a place to use the restroom.

According to the criminal complaint, as one officer talked with Burstad, another saw a pipe in plain sight

Burstad allegedly showed the officers the pipe and stated he didn’t think it was a pipe.

He then allegedly said he really had to relieve himself, before falling to the ground saying he had soiled himself.

According to the criminal complaint, officers continued to search Burstad’s vehicle and found drug paraphernalia and five baggies containing what appeared to be methamphetamine.

Burstad was placed under arrest for possession of drugs.

The alleged meth weighed approximately 145 grams, or 5.12 ounces.

If convicted, Burstad faces up to 30 years in prison and/or a $1,000,000 fine.

Garett Lee Secola, 37, Little Falls, has been charged with fifth degree felony drug possession.

Secola has also been charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly violating a restraining order.

According to the criminal complaint, a person who has a restraining order against Secola told law enforcement he had been texting her using a fake name.

When an officer located Secola, he allegedly told the officer he had sold his phone to a man with the same alleged fake name.

According to the criminal complaint, the officer then called Secola’s cell phone and heard it ringing.

Secola allegedly changed his story and said he had changed SD cards with the allegedly fake person, before telling the officer he had contacted the victim.

After being arrested, Secola was taken to the Morrison County Jail where he was asked to remove some of his clothing.

While doing so, Secola allegedly tried to hide a baggie with a crystal like substance in it.

According to the criminal complaint, the substance field tested positive as methamphetamine and weighed over .25 grams.

If convicted of the felony drug charge, Secola faces up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

Linda Kay Hines, 54, Royalton has been charged with three felony charges for allegedly violating restraining orders.

On May 2, 2016, a restraining order was placed against Hines.

On Dec. 13, 2016, the victim who had the restraining order filed against Hines told the Royalton Police Department she had allegedly left several voice messages on his answering machine.

The approximately 10 messages from Dec. 8, 9 and 11, 2016 allegedly contain music and Hines swearing and calling the victim names.

According to the criminal complaint, Hines accused the victim of lying and blamed him for her losing her job and going to jail.

She also allegedly said she was breaking the law by contacting him.

Because of two previous gross misdemeanor convictions for violating a restraining or no contact order, one in Morrison County and another in North Dakota, Hines was charged with felonies.

If convicted, Hines faces up to 15 years in prison and/or $30,000 in fines.

Christopher Lee Forcier, 36, Little Falls, has been charged in Morrison County District Court with felony domestic assault.

On Jan. 17, An officer with the Little Falls Police Department received a report of a domestic assault at a home in Little Falls.

When the officer arrived at the residence, he allegedly found Forcier who was crying.

Forcier allegedly said he had punched the victim and that he wanted to go to jail, the officer then placed him under arrest.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim said Forcier had punched her in the back of the head five times, following a disagreement.

The officer allegedly noticed a large lump on the back of the victim’s head.

Forcier has been convicted of domestic assault in March 2008, and for violating a restraining order in January 2013.

These convictions are why Forcier is being charged with a felony.

If convicted, Forcier faces up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

Devin James Guenther, 18, Elk River, has been charged with fifth degree felony drug possession in Morrison County District Court.

On Oct. 18, Guenther was allegedly part of an incident at a Little Falls home  along with Sharonda Mae Little Ricardo Medina and Evan William Anderson, where an armed altercation over a drug deal allegedly took place.

Officers arrested Guenther and Anderson at the residence.

At the Morrison County Jail, Guenther allegedly said Little had told him to conduct surveillance around the area.

41 Xanax pills, a Schedule IV controlled substance were found on Guenther.

He allegedly told officers he did not have a prescription for the drug, but would not say where he got the pills.

If convicted, Guenther faces up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

Aimee Jo Jackman, 21, Little Falls, has been charged with fifth degree felony drug possession.

According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 20, Jackman was arrested for violating the terms of her probation.

When a Morrison County Sheriff’s deputy searched her purse and allegedly found a container which tested positive for heroin, foil with burned heroin residue and two doses of Suboxone,  a prescription drug court documents say Jackman doesn’t have a prescription for.

Jackman allegedly told officers she had gone to the Twin Cities a few days prior to the incident and bought heroin.

Jackman also allegedly said she had taken the Suboxone from somebody without their permission.

If convicted, Jackman faces up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

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

Gross Misdemeanors

• Christopher James Schuman, 29, Little Falls; (offense: 8/8/2016) obstructing legal process, fined $385, sentenced to 30 days in jail and supervised probation for two years and one count of fifth degree assault, fine concurrent with first count.
• Riley John Hoskins, 23, Milaca; (offense: 10/22/2016) fourth degree DWI, fined $410, sentenced to four days in jail and supervised probation for one year. Dismissed against Hoskins was one gross misdemeanor count of fourth degree DWI.

Misdemeanors

• David Carl Johnson, 35, Little Falls; (offense: 12/28/2015) theft – value more than $500 but less than $1,000, fined $135, supervised probation for one year.
• Michael Dean Kingkade, 58, Little Falls; (offense: 11/22/2016) disorderly conduct – offensive/abusive/noisy/obscene, fined $100.
• Cynthia Michele Brown, 59, Little Falls; (offense: 7/10/2016) theft – find and appropriate lost property, fined $175, sentenced to four days in jail and probation to the court for one year.
• Ashley Jade Doble, 33, Little Falls; (offense: 12/17/2016) driving after revocation, fined $135, sentenced to 12 days in jail and probation to the court for one year.
• Mallory Marie Perowitz, 27, Little Falls; (offense: 7/31/2016) domestic assault, fined $100, supervised probation for one year.
• Steffan Levis Peters, 30, St. Cloud; (offense: 10/30/2016) DWI, fined $560, sentenced to 13 days in jail and supervised probation for two years.
• Eric John Barnum, 44, Brainerd; (offense: 9/4/2016) DWI, fined $285, sentenced to one day in jail and supervised probation for two years.
• Fred Scott Siegel, 54, Randall; (offense: 12/4/2016)disorderly conduct – offensive/abusive/obscene, fined $385, sentenced to two days in jail and supervised probation for one year.

A felony burglary charge against Jermain Anthony Lee Mallin, 26, St. Cloud, was dismissed in Morrison County District Court Jan. 25, after it was decided he was incompetent to proceed under Minnesota law.

The charge stemmed from an incident on Oct. 24, 2016, a homeowner called the sheriff’s office and reported their residence in Little Falls was just burglarized. The suspect had entered the residence when no one was home, went through the kitchen cupboards and refrigerator, stealing some food and money.

While the homeowner was on their way home, they saw a man walking on Hawthorne Road north of Highway 27. Morrison County deputies were able to locate the man, who matched the description of an earlier suspicious person complaint near 160th Avenue in Little Falls Township. The man was identified as Mallin.

Deputies allegedly found some of the stolen items on Mallin.

Benjamin Anthony Tschida, 32, Little Falls, has been charged with fifth degree felony drug possession in Morrison County District Court.

On Jan. 27, the Little Falls Police Department responded to a possible domestic assault at a residence on Sixth Street Northeast.

According to the criminal complaint, the complainant said Tschida had slapped her in the back of the head.

Tschida had allegedly fled before law enforcement arrived.

Law enforcement found Tschida allegedly hiding behind a tree.

After he was placed in handcuffs by officers, a search of the area allegedly led to law enforcement finding a scale, some empty bags and another small bag containing what appeared to be methamphetamine.

The complainant declined to give a statement about the alleged assault to law enforcement.

According to the criminal complaint, the substance in the bag tested positive as meth.

If convicted, Tschida faces up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

Vincenzo Ciro Sposito Jr., 41, Pequot Lakes, has been charged in Morrison County District Court with fifth degree felony drug possession. Sposito has also been charged with driving after his license was cancelled.

On Jan. 29, a member of the Minnesota State Patrol stopped Sposito’s vehicle for an alleged equipment violation.

After being told several times to exit the vehicle, Sposito did so.

When an officer searched the area where Sposito was seated in the vehicle, he allegedly found a methamphetamine pipe hidden in a bandanna.

According to the criminal complaint, a baggie with meth, weighing .5 grams was found on Sposito.

A review of Sposito’s driving records shows his license was cancelled after multiple DWIs.

If convicted of the felony, Sposito faces up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

Jan. 17 — A resident on 10th Street Southwest reported a theft.
Jan. 17 — A business on 18th Street Northeast reported a theft.
Jan. 18 — A resident on Buck Lane reported the theft of a camera.
Jan. 19 — A business on LeMieur Street reported a theft.
Jan. 19 — A resident on First Street Northeast reported the unauthorized use of their vehicle.
Jan. 19 — A resident on Ninth Avenue Northwest reported a theft.
Jan. 21 — A resident on First Street Southeast reported a theft.
Jan. 21 — A business on 18th Street Northeast reported the receipt of a fraudulent check.
Jan. 23 — A business on 18th Street Northeast reported a shoplifter.
Jan. 25 — A resident on Broadway West reported a fraudulent check.
Jan. 25 — A resident on 14th Street Southwest reported a theft.
Jan. 25 — A business on LeMieur Street reported a theft.
Jan. 26 — A business on 18th Street Northeast reported a theft.
Jan. 26 — A resident on Second Street Southeast reported a case of fraud.
Jan. 26 — A business on First Avenue Northeast reported a gas drive off.
Jan. 27 — A business on 18th Street Northeast reported a theft.
Jan. 28 — A resident on DeRosier Drive reported a scam in which someone called saying the resident had won $2.5 million. The caller asked that the resident send $450 via Western Union to process the winnings.
Jan. 30 — A business on Second Avenue Northesat reported a theft.
Jan. 30 — A resident on Seventh Street Northeast reported a scam.
Jan. 30 — A resident on Highway 25 in Buckman reported damage to property.
Feb. 1 — A resident on Riverwood Drive reported damage done to their property.

Damian David Hansmann, 26, whereabouts unknown, has been charged with violating requirements as a registered predatory offender.

Due to a prior conviction, Hansmann is required to register as a predatory offender until 2041, and meet requirements including  notifying law enforcement of when his primary address changes.

According to the criminal complaint, Hansmann’s most recent address was at a residence on Eighth Street Southwest in Little Falls.

When law enforcement attempted to verify this was still where he lived, a woman allegedly told the officer she had kicked him out on Dec. 16, 2016 and that she doesn’t know where he is.

Court documents say the officer’s attempts to contact Hansmann have been unsuccessful and a warrant for his arrest has been issued.

If convicted, Hansmann faces up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

A felony charge for violating requirement for a predatory offender to inform law enforcement of a change of address against Dan Leroy Fergeson Jr., 25, residence unknown, has been dismissed.

Fergeson has been required to register as a predatory offender since 2014, following felony theft convictions.

Fergeson was required to register for 10 years and inform authorities at least five days in advance of moving.

On Oct. 30, 2016, law enforcement went to perform a compliance check on Fergeson at his Little Falls residence.

The property owner allegedly told officers Fergeson had was gone and hadn’t been at the home for a while.

According to court documents, the charge was dismissed after it was confirmed Fergeson was living in Colorado and receiving medical treatment there.

MacKenzie Joe Nieman, 20, Little Falls, has been charged with fifth degree felony drug possession in Morrison County District Court.

On Jan. 28, Nieman was stopped on Haven Road for an alleged equipment violation.

The officer who stopped Nieman allegedly noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

According to the criminal complaint, the officer looked inside Nieman’s  vehicle and saw a methamphetamine pipe in plain view.

A baggie allegedly containing meth was found in Nieman’s wallet.

According to the criminal complaint, the substance allegedly field tested positive as meth and weighed approximately 1.1 grams.

Nieman allegedly admitted it was meth and that he had paid $60 for it.

If convicted, Nieman faces up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

James Michael Nuttbrock, 55, Pierz, was found not guilty of felony theft in Morrison County District Court, Jan. 26.

The charges came on April 7, 2014, when the Crow Wing Power Company reported the theft of electricity to the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office. The company named Nuttbrock as the person in question.

The Sheriff’s Office was told that someone had used a homemade cable with clips attached at the top of the electric power pole. There were cords dangling down from the pole.

The clips were used to bypass the meter at the top of the pole and the unmetered wires ran down the pole to an outlet box with numerous extension cords, allegedly supplying electricity to the Nuttbrock residence and outbuildings.

Nuttbrock pleaded not guilty to the charge and a jury acquitted him.

Jan. 26 — A business on Highway 27 in Hillman reported the receipt of three counterfeit $20 bills.

Jan. 26 — A resident on Haven Road in Little Falls reported the theft of medication.

Jan. 26 — A resident on 170th Avenue in Royalton reported a scam in which a they received a notice in the mail from a collection agency in New York stating the resident owed $50 from a parking violation in July 2016. The resident said they had not owned the vehicle since 1998.

Jan. 27 — A resident on 270th Street in Cushing reported a scam in which someone called claiming to be the resident’s grandson and wanted some money.

Jan. 28 — A resident on Nature Road in Foley reported a theft in which they sold $2,580 worth of hay and corn stalks and were paid with a check that came back with insufficient funds.

Jan. 29 — A resident on Hilton Road in Royalton reported a scam in which someone called and stated their headset had fallen off and asked the resident if they could hear the caller. The resident said “yes” and then was told he owed money.

Jan. 30 — A resident on 103rd Street in Hillman reported the theft of a handgun valued at $250. The handgun is German-made with a six-round capacity.

Feb. 1 — A resident on 95th Street in Swanville reported a scam in which they received called from four people, several who were out of state, claiming that they had received a missed call from the resident’s phone number. The resident had not called them.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that charges are pending against 31 year old, Vincent Beaulieu from Onamia, for his alleged involvement in attempting to pass counterfeit money at businesses in northeast Morrison County.

On Jan. 22, Beaulieu went into a gas station and allegedly attempted to use counterfeit money to pay for merchandise. The owner of the business noticed it was counterfeit and questioned him about it.  The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office said Beaulieu then fled the business, but the owner was able to retain a portion of the counterfeit bill.

During the investigation, deputies learned three other businesses throughout Morrison County have been receiving counterfeit bills.

Sheriff Shawn Larsen reminds business owners to take the proper precautions if they believe someone is trying to pass counterfeit money.  Businesses should try to get a description of the person as well as a license plate number of the vehicle they are associated with.  All denominations of U.S. currency should be checked by business owners.

In most cases, the counterfeit money can be recognized by the material it is made from.  The texture and appearance is sometimes noticeable. Anyone who encounters a possible counterfeit bill, is asked to call the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 632-9233.

Morrison County investigators were assisted by the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office in identifying the suspect as Beaulieu.

Zachary Arthur Billman, 27, Homeless, was charged in Morrison County District Court Feb. 2 with a felony for allegedly fleeing law enforcement in a motor vehicle.

Billman was also charged with a gross misdemeanor charge for allegedly obstructing the legal process with force, and a misdemeanor for driving after his license was cancelled.

On Feb. 1, an officer with the Motley Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle on Highway 10 in Motley. A scan of the license plate allegedly showed the driver’s license was revoked.

After the officer turned on his lights and used his siren in short bursts, the vehicle continued to travel south on Highway 10.

The officer continued to pursue the vehicle with lights and sirens on, eventually following the vehicle onto County Road 28.

There, two semi-trucks parked on the side of the road and oncoming traffic allegedly forced the vehicle to stop.

According to the criminal complaint, the officer approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Billman whose license is revoked and who also has a warrant out for his arrest in Wadena County.

The officer ordered Billman to exit the vehicle, but Billman was allegedly aggressive and uncooperative.

The officer told Billman to get on the ground, but he  allegedly did not comply until the officer deployed his stun gun.

According to the criminal complaint, several officers had to assist the arresting officer when Billman was taken to the Morrison County Jail.

He allegedly became combative and resisted officers until a stun gun was deployed to gain compliance. Billman was then placed in a holding cell.

If convicted of the felony, Billman faces up to three years and one day in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.

Alesha Ann Clausen, 29, St. Cloud, was convicted  in Morrison County District Court Feb. 1, of felony third degree drug possession.

On Oct. 4, 2015, at approximately 7 a.m., a law enforcement officer stopping to get fuel at a gas station in Motley noticed a woman sitting in a nearby vehicle slumped over the steering wheel.

The officer’s attempts to contact the driver were met with a drowsy response, and the officer detected the odor of burnt marijuana as well as a strong chemical odor that burned the officer’s nostrils.

The driver, identified as Clausen, appeared to be disoriented and disheveled and had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and dilated pupils.

Clausen performed poorly on several field sobriety tests, although a breath test indicated no alcohol consumption.

A search of Clausen’s vehicle found drug paraphernalia, as well as a small stuffed animal containing 2.27 grams of a crystal substance which tested positive for methamphetamine.

Inside Clausen’s purse was found a brown bag containing 13.94 grams of a white crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Clausen originally pleaded not guilty to second degree drug possession, before pleading guilty to third degree drug possession as part of a plea agreement.

Clausen was sentenced to 27 months in prison, but was given a stayed sentence of 20 years of supervised probation.

Clausen was also sentenced to 22 days in jail and was given credit for 22 days served. She was fined $585.

A fourth degree misdemeanor DWI charge was dismissed.