Josea Allen Cain, 28, Brainerd, was convicted July 6, in Morrison County District Court of felony first degree burglary. A felony charge for receiving stolen property was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

The charge stems from a Feb. 4, 2016 incident, when law enforcement began investigating reports of vehicle tampering in Pierz.

A witness came to speak to law enforcement and said she was with Cain during two such tampering incidents.

The witness told officers that she had observed Cain steal several firearms from a residence north of Harding.

The witness was driving with Cain in the car when he told her to drop him off near Harding.

The witness did so and shortly after, said Cain called and asked to be picked up.

When the witnessed picked Cain up from the residence, he had two rifles with him that he didn’t have when he was dropped off at the residence.

Cain later made a comment about stealing the guns and hid them in a black tote in the witness’s apartment.

During a search of the witness’s apartment, officers found the guns hidden in the tote, as described.

The owner of the residence was then contacted and identified the guns as those that were stolen from a heated workshop on the property.

Cain was sentenced to 19 days in jail and was given credit for 19 days served.

He was also sentenced to 20 years of supervised probation and was fined $1,521.85, including restitution to the victim.

A Little Falls man was arrested Thursday, Aug. 17, after fleeing police.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office said about 6:36 p.m., a deputy attempted to stop a motor vehicle near Brandl Motors, just south of Little Falls. The vehicle did not stop and a short pursuit through the parking lot took place.

The driver stopped the vehicle and fled from deputies on foot. After a search of the area, the driver, Chase Fortier, 21, of Little Falls was found and taken into custody.

Fortier is being held in the Morrison County Jail pending formal charges.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Minnesota State Patrol and the Little Falls Police Department.

Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen reports that arrest warrants were issued for the following people. Those with information as to the whereabouts of anyone on the list, are asked to contact the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 632-9233 or toll-free at 1 (866) 401-1111, ext. 180. The warrants were issued Aug. 2 – 15.

• Kyle Henry Borchert, Long Prairie.
• Sarah Jean Mona Dubinsky, Bemidji.
• Chase Charles Fortier, Little Falls.
• Adam Joseph Gardner, Swanville.
• Kelsey Rae Hollermann, Little Falls.
• Aimee Joe Jackman, Little Falls.
• Ronald Lee Lindberg, Little Falls.
• Daniel Robert Miller, Otsego.
• Ryan Robert Murray, Long Prairie.
• Mackenzie Joe Nieman, Little Falls.
• Dollina Mae Olson, Little Falls.
• Julia Paula Otterness, Little Falls.

Kelly Rae Hayes, 34, Audubon, is facing two felony theft charges in Morrison County District Court, one for allegedly committing theft, and another for aiding and abetting the alleged thief.

The charges stem from a Aug. 18, 2014 incident, when a man reported that his lock box containing $35,000 was  stolen.

The victim allegedly said he believed Hayes and Ba’Cari Meadows, who was charged in October of 2014 in connection with the case, had stolen the box while they were living with him and while he was out of the house, Aug. 15, 2014.

Both Hayes and Meadows denied stealing the box.

On Sept. 5, 2014, Hayes allegedly told law enforcement she had assisted Meadows in trying to break into the box, before the two took it to a locksmith in Brainerd.

The locksmith allegedly opened the box after Meadows answered challenge questions successfully.

If convicted, Hayes faces up to 20 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine for each charge.

Christopher Lee Gottschalk, 50, Naples, Fla., is facing a felony fifth degree drug possession charge, as well as gross misdemeanor charge for allegedly receiving stolen property.

The charges stem from an Aug. 5 incident, when a Randall resident allegedly discovered someone let the air out of his SUV’s tires and another person reported that someone stole over $500 worth of items from his boat house.

Law enforcement considered Gottschalk a suspect in the case and obtained a warrant to search his property in Ripley Township.

There, law enforcement allegedly found eight grams of marijuana and .58 grams of methamphetamine.

Investigators also allegedly found the items stolen from the victim’s boat house at another apartment belonging to Gottschalk.

He was then arrested and taken to the Morrison County Jail.

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

Craig Van Brickey, 37, Little Falls, was convicted Aug. 9 in Morrison County District Court, of a felony for making terroristic threats. Another felony charge for second degree assault was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

The charges stem from a Dec. 11, 2016 incident, when law enforcement responded to a report of an assault at a Little Falls bar.

When police arrived they spoke to a man who said he had been attacked by Brickey.

The victim had let Brickey sit in his truck since it was cold outside. Brickey and the man had polite conversation before Brickey began making racial slurs and white supremacist comments,

The victim then attempted to make Brickey leave the truck and both fell out as they fought one another.

At one point during the altercation, Brickey allegedly took out a folding knife.

The victim was able to calm Brickey down and he went into the bar.

Police detained Brickey as he was standing in the parking lot without his shirt, with a bloody nose and drunk.

Once in the back of the squad car, Brickey was allegedly yelling and hitting his head on the inside of the car.

Brickey also allegedly held onto the door so the officer was unable to open it, before being overpowered and placed under arrest.

At the Morrison County Jail, Brickey threatened to kill the officer.

A gross misdemeanor for allegedly obstructing justice with force was dismissed.

Brickey pleaded guilty to the charge, along with the felony terroristic threat charge as part of a plea agreement.

Brickey was sentenced to 90 days of local confinement, 60 in jail and the other 30 with electronic monitoring. He was given credit for six days served.

Brickey was also sentenced to five years of supervised probation and was fined $135.

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

Gross Misdemeanors

• Bruce Everett Boyd, 46, Randall (offense 5/21/17) driving after cancellation of driver’s license, fined $135 and sentenced to 15 days in jail and two years of supervised probation.
• Amanda Lynn Payne, 37, Motley (offense 8/3/17) second degree DWI, fined $415 and sentenced to 12 days in jail and supervised probation for six years. Dismissed against Payne was one count of second degree DWI.

Misdemeanors

• Joshua Peter Senart, 31, Little Falls (offense 6/9/17) harassment, violate a restraining order, fined $185 and sentenced to 10 days in jail and supervised probation for one year.
• Joshua Michael Groshong, 28, Little Falls (offense 7/10/17) traffic collision – failure to notify owner of damaged property and driving after suspension, fined $185 and sentenced to two days in jail.
• Tyler John Noakes, 33, Bowlus (offense 6/16/17) disorderly conduct, fined $135 and sentenced to 60 days in jail.
• Royalton William Noe Jr., 31, Hillman (offense 10/25/16) domestic assault, fined $50 and sentenced to 40 days in jail.
• Brandon Scott Waldoch, 24, Little Falls (offense 5/28/17) DWI, fined $560 and sentenced to one day in jail and supervised probation for two years.
• Kristin Mae Nathe, 31, St. Cloud (offense 11/17/16) third degree DWI, fined $315 and sentenced to one day in jail and supervised probation for two years. Dismissed against Nathe was one gross misdemeanor count of third degree DWI.

Evan William Anderson, 29, Faribault, was convicted Monday in Morrison County District Court, of a felony for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Two felony charges for second degree assault  and aggravated robbery were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

The charges stem from an incident in October 2016, when Anderson, along with Sharonda Mae Little, Ricardo Medina and Devin James Guenther allegedly were involved in an incident where a confidential informant was attacked for owing Medina money.

During the alleged incident, Anderson had a firearm.

Anderson pleaded guilty to the firearms possession charge as part of a plea agreement.

As part of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to 60 months in prison and was fined $135.

Linaya Elaine Mathis, 21, Eden Valley, was convicted Monday in Morrison County District Court, of felony check forgery.

The charge stems from  August 2016, when the Little Falls Police Department received a report from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Department that Mathis was passing forged checks throughout Central Minnesota, including at three gas stations in Morrison County, cashed on July 18, 2016.

A Kandiyohi County resident reported that someone had reprinted his checks and changed the name on the checks to their name, but kept the routing and account numbers the same.

The three checks in Morrison County totalled $461.52. The name on the checks was Mathis’.

At one of the gas stations, a clerk wrote down the license plate number of the person who cashed the check’s vehicle. It matched a vehicle owned by Mathis.

Surveillance footage from two of the gas stations show Mathis cashing the forged checks.

On Sept. 13, 2016, Mathis was in the Stearns County Jail and admitted to passing forged checks in Little Falls.

Mathis was sentenced to 15 months in prison and was fined $596.52, including restitution.

Aug. 9 — A resident on Seventh Street Northeast reported someone had been knocking on their windows.

Aug. 9 — A resident on First Street Northeast reported a scam call from someone claiming to be from a utility company. The caller requested money via transfer for an outstanding bill. The resident hung up and called their utility company and learned there was no outstanding bill and the call was a scam.

Aug. 9 — A resident on Sixth Street Northwest reported a scam call in which someone claiming to be from their electrical provider called to demand $500 or threatened turning off the resident’s electricity. The resident sent the caller $500 on a prepaid card and after calling the electrical company learned they had been scammed.

Aug. 9 — A resident on 13th Street Northeast reported a scam from a utility company, with the caller asking the resident to pay via a prepaid debit card for an outstanding bill. The resident contacted the utility company and found out there was no outstanding bill and the call was a scam.

Aug. 9 — A resident on Seventh Street Northeast reported someone vandalized their garage door by writing an offensive message with black marker.

Aug. 10 — A resident on Fourth Avenue Southwest reported a theft.

Aug. 10 — A business on First Avenue Northeast reported a theft.

Aug. 10 — A resident on Eighth Street Northeast reported someone had stolen the realtor sign outside the residence.

Aug. 11 — A resident on Fifth Avenue Northeast reported someone had broken out the back window of their vehicle.

Aug. 8 — A resident on First Avenue Southeast in Little Falls reported a scam.

Aug. 9 — A resident on 220th Street in Randall reported a possible scam in which a woman in her late 20s in an older silver Jeep stopped by selling cleaning products. The woman never gave a brand and it looked as though the products had been purchased from a big box store.

Aug. 10 — Someone damaged a bulldozer at a construction site off of Jewel Road by County Road 49, Ft. Ripley.
Aug. 10 — Someone damaged grass at the airport entry on Airport Road in Little Falls.

Aug. 10 — A resident on 233rd Street in Little Falls reported a scam. The scam was a call from a person stating that the resident was in trouble and if the resident did not return the call, they would have to go before a judge.

Aug. 10 — A business on 150th Avenue in Little Falls reported someone paid for two vehicles with a bad check.

Aug. 11 — A resident on Jewel Road in Little Falls reported a scam in which they received a call saying the resident had won $9,000 but the resident had to guy buy $250 in iTunes gift cards and send the caller the confirmation code.

Aug. 12 — A business on Highway 10 South in Royalton reported a gas drive off.

Aug. 13 — A resident on 330th Avenue in Foley reported the theft of a crossbow, a pistol crossbow and $2,000 in cash.

Aug. 14 — A resident on 285th Avenue in Pierz reported a scam in which someone called saying they were from the IRS and that the resident owed them money.

Aug. 14 — A resident on 223rd Street in Little Falls reported a break-in.

Aug. 14 — A resident on Rhoda Avenue in Swanville reported a scam.

Aug. 14 — A resident on 70th Avenue in Cushing reported someone broke into their cabin and stole some items.

Aug. 14 — A resident on Fish Trap Lake Drive in Cushing reported a theft.

Aug. 14 — A resident on 120th Avenue in Little Falls reported someone stole an enclosed trailer, which housed several items such as a washer, dryer and other items.

Aug. 15 — A resident on 93rd Street in Pierz reported someone had been in their residence, but nothing appeared to be missing.

Ryan Richard Deters, 40, Little Falls, has been convicted of felonies for fifth degree drug possession, domestic assault and violating a restraining order.

A felony harassment charge and misdemeanor charge for allegedly driving on a suspended license were dismissed.

The charges stem from a Feb. 13 incident, when Deters violated a restraining order by going to the home of a victim who has a restraining order against him. Another victim, who has a no contact order against Deters, was also present at the home.

According to one of the victims, Deters stood over her, yelled at her, threatened her and called her obscenities.

The victim said Deters had texted her that day and said she would be dead today or tonight.

The boyfriend of the victim with the restraining order convinced Deters to go on a drive with him to calm down.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Department was informed of the violation and stopped the vehicle the two were in.

Deters had been driving and deputies arrested him for driving with a suspended license.

Deters asked a deputy to help him with some methamphetamine in his possession.

The deputy found a baggie containing 2.1 grams of meth, which Deters said belonged to the boyfriend, and that he had only put it in his pocket to secure it when the two were pulled over. More meth was found in the vehicle.

The boyfriend allegedly denied that the drugs were his.

Deters has been convicted of five other various domestic assault related offenses within the past 10 years. These increase the domestic assault and restraining order violation charges to felonies.

Deters was sentenced to 32 months in prison and was fined $135.

A woman alleged in possession of drugs was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 6, after giving a false name and the driver of the car she was in was cited for driving after revocation in Watab Township.

About 10:45 p.m., a Benton County deputy on routine patrol conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle found near the intersection of 105th Street Northwest and Northeast River Road, according to a report from the Benton County Sheriff’s Department.

The deputy talked to the driver, Jason Wolf, 55, of Royalton, who allegedly told the deputy he did not have a valid driver’s license. A female passenger, later identified as Kendra Ann Englehart, 26, Pierz, allegedly told the deputy she had just purchased the vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Department said during the conversation with Englehart, she allegedly identified herself using her sister’s name, rather than her own. As the deputy was speaking with these two individuals, the deputy noted an overwhelming odor of perfume or cologne coming from the vehicle. The deputy allegedly noted the perfume odor was so strong it seemed to have been sprayed around the inside of the vehicle rather than on a person as though the occupants were trying to mask another odor in the vehicle.

In speaking further with the occupants of the vehicle, the deputy allegedly saw a small butane torch, of the type typically used by individuals for smoking controlled substances, on the floor of the vehicle near Englehart’s feet.

The deputy requested K-9 Ragnar respond to the scene on the suspicion that there were controlled substances in the vehicle. As they were waiting for the K-9 unit, Englehart allegedly told the deputy there was drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted and deputies allegedly found drug paraphernalia, two gram scales, several grams of suspected marijuana, several grams of suspected methamphetamine, and a pair of metal knuckles with an attached knife blade.

Englehart’s identification was located during the search and Englehart allegedly confirmed that she had initially given her sister’s name to the deputy. Evidence found during the search indicated that Englehart had allegedly been in possession of the contraband. Wolf was cited for driving after revocation and released at the scene.

Englehart was arrested on charges of fifth degree controlled substance crime, possession of a dangerous weapon, and giving a false name to a peace officer. Englehart also had an outstanding warrant for fifth degree controlled substance crime, according to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said Englehart was transported to the Benton County Jail where she is currently awaiting her first appearance in court.

A felony second degree burglary charge against Ronald Lee Lindberg, 47, Little Falls, was dismissed Aug. 30 in Morrison County District Court.

He was convicted of a gross misdemeanor obstruction of the legal process by force, after he attempted to attack an officer.

The charge stems from a June 11 incident, when Lindberg allegedly broke into a person’s home and damaged some of their possessions.

When police tried to force him to leave, he tried to punch an officer.

The burglary charge was dismissed, after Lindberg pleaded guilty to the obstruction charge as part of a plea agreement, court documents said.

Desiree Lynn Okerman, 48, Randall, is facing a felony fifth degree drug possession charge in Morrison County District Court.

The charge stems from a Sept. 1 incident, when a Morrison County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived at a residence in Randall to serve civil process papers.

The deputy allegedly was able to see two women, including Okerman, sitting on a couch through an open window.

When the deputy knocked on the door, Okerman allegedly attempted to hide what appeared to be a water bong.

When asked what she was hiding, Okerman allegedly said it was a pipe for marijuana, but the deputy allegedly saw white residue consistent with methamphetamine use.

Law enforcement allegedly found drug paraphernalia in the house and arrested Okerman.

When deputies searched her purse, .123 grams of alleged meth and .35 grams of marijuana were found in baggies.

Okerman allegedly said she had been smoking meth prior to the deputy’s arrival, but that the meth in her purse wasn’t hers.

If convicted, Okerman could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

Aug. 30 — A resident on Grouse Road in Little Falls reported the theft of clothing.

Aug. 31 — A resident on 30th Street in Holdingford reported a theft.

Aug. 31 — A resident on Lake Point Road in Pierz learned from their bank that someone was using their checks at a store in Sauk Rapids. The resident said three checks were stolen from their mailbox in August.

Sept. 2 — A resident on 290th Street in Cushing reported their hunting cabin had been broken into.

Sept. 3 — A resident on Lakeview Drive in Cushing reported the theft of a boat trailer.

Sept. 3 — A resident on Cable Road in Little Falls reported the theft of a motor vehicle.

Sept. 3 — A resident on 360th Avenue in Hillman reported the theft of a vehicle.

Sept. 3 — A resident on Hillton Road in Little Falls reported a scam in which an automated call asked “Can you hear me,” and the resident answered “yes.”

Sept. 4 — A resident on Highway 25 in Pierz reported a stolen vehicle.

Sept. 5 — County Public Works reported the theft of four orange flashing lights, valued at $125, had been stolen from a site on Bison Road in Randall.

Sept. 5 — A resident on Highway 25 in Pierz reported someone had shot out the windows of a vehicle the resident parked in their ditch to use to hold signs for the business.

Sept. 5 — A resident on 133rd Street in Little Falls reported someone driving and tearing up the road and field on 133rd Street.
Sept. 6 — A resident on 370th Avenue in Hillman reported a burglary. Someone broke into a shed and stole a 25-amp wire feeder.

Brandon Lee Middendorf, 22, Foley was convicted Sept. 1, in Morrison County District Court of felony third degree burglary.

The charge stems from a Dec, 19, 2016 incident, when a homeowner called the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office to report that their home had been burglarized and several items were missing.

Deputies found footprints in the snow leading to another residence, where they found Middendorf, along with evidence linking him to the burglary.

Middendorf’s boot treads matched those around the garage.

Deputies located several of the missing items at two different pawn shops in St. Cloud.

Middendorf was arrested and admitted he was involved in the burglary.

Middendorf was sentenced to 61 days in jail and was given credit for 61 days served.

He was also sentenced to five years of supervised probation and was fined $1,377.92, including restitution.

Christopher Brandon Walters, 31, and Stephen Paul Vondras, 34, both of Bemidji, were convicted, Aug. 30, in Morrison County District Court, of felony fifth degree drug possession.

The charges stem from a March 10 traffic stop near the town of Motley on Highway 10, when a vehicle driven by Vondras was pulled over for speeding.

During the traffic stop, the trooper detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, in which Walters was also a passenger.

The trooper also noticed that the occupants became increasingly nervous throughout the encounter.

The trooper had the defendants exit the vehicle and searched it. The search revealed a pill bottle in a jacket belonging to Walters that contained 30 Ecstasy pills which is a Schedule I controlled substance.

A backpack owned by Vondras also contained 11 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, which is also a Schedule I substance.

Both men were also in possession of several grams of marijuana.

Walters and Vondras were arrested and while at jail, Walters admitted to smoking marijuana approximately an hour before the stop, and that he got scared and hid a grinder and pipe when pulled over.

He also admitted to purchasing the pills, which he assumed were Ecstasy and that they were “for the purpose of partying.”

Walters was sentenced to 30 days in jail and was fined $135. Vondras was sentenced to 15 days in jail and was fined $50.

Both men were given credit for four days served and were also sentenced to five years of supervised probation.

The Morrison County District Court ordered a felony first degree drug possession charge against Jordan Adam Burstad, 28, Thief River Falls, be dismissed, Sept. 1.

The charge stemmed from a Jan. 21 incident, when law enforcement allegedly found drugs in his vehicle.

The charge was dismissed by the court after evidence in the car and from a pat-down search of Burstad was suppressed, court documents said.

The alleged evidence was suppressed because officers did not have reasonable suspicion that Burstad was armed and dangerous when they searched him, nor did they have probable cause to search his vehicle, according to the court’s ruling.

Aug. 29 — A resident on Lindbergh Drive North reported the theft of a vacuum cleaner.

Aug. 30 — A resident on Haven Road reported the theft of bicycles from a bike rack.

Aug. 30 — A resident on Sixth Street Northeast reported someone had stolen their license plate.

Aug. 30 — A resident on Seventh Avenue Northeast reported someone had damaged their mailbox.

Aug. 30 — A resident on Seventh Avenue Northeast reported damage to their mailbox.

Aug. 30 — A resident on Third Street Northeast reported the theft of $60 in cash and a phone charger from their vehicle.

Aug. 30 — A resident on Seventh Street Southwest reported damage done to their property.

Aug. 31 — A resident on Second Street Northeast reported someone had stolen their Dual brand, single DIN car radio, valued at $20.

Sept. 1 — A resident on Fourth Avenue Northeast reported damage done to their property.

Sept. 1 — A business on Second Avenue Northeast reported a shoplifter.

Sept. 2 — A business on First Avenue Northeast reported a gas drive off.

Sept. 3 — A resident on Fourth Street Southeast reported a theft.

Sept. 3 — A resident on First Street Northeast reported a theft.

Sept. 4 — A resident on Third Street Northwest reported a theft.