Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Roger Earl Holland, an Apple Valley resident, is accused of killing his pregnant wife and her unborn child, then staging a scene to make her death appear accidental.
Roger Earl Holland, an Apple Valley man accused of killing his pregnant wife and her unborn child, was indicted on two counts of premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder on Monday by a Dakota County Grand Jury. On March 7, police found Holland's pregnant wife, 37-year-old Marjorie Ann Holland, at the bottom of the stairs in Holland's Apple Valley townhome after receiving a 911 call from Holland. Apple Valley medical personnel were unable to resuscitate her. Margorie Holland was transported to Fairview Ridges Hospital. She was declared dead at 11:24 a.m. She was 15 weeks pregnant at the time. Holland initially told police that he was out picking up breakfast and had returned home to find his wife lying …
Friday, April 12, 2013
Attorneys, police and education officials from the east metro gathered for a forum on bullying, cyberbullying and sexting earlier this week.
Bullying, cyberbullying and crime are inextricably linked, according to the members of the East Metro Crime Prevention Coalition, which took aim at the topic during an April 10 forum in Stillwater. The coalition, formed last year, includes the Ramsey, Dakota and Washington Sheriffs and County Attorneys Offices. The coalition's purpose is to address community issues with unified prevention, law enforcement and education strategies, according to a news release issued by the organization. The April forum was an opportunity for officials to dialogue about bullying, cyberbullying and sexting in schools, with attendees drawing a clear connection between those issues and other significant criminal problems. "The connection between bullies and …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Apple Valley police seized two pounds of heroin—with an estimated street value of $140,000, on March 29.
Apple Valley police uncovered more than two pounds of heroin, with an estimated street value of $140,000, during a disturbance call at a local apartment complex on March 29. The bust is believed to be the largest in Dakota County history, according to a news release issued by Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. Warren Earl Comeaux, a 48-year-old Brooklyn Park man, was charged yesterday with two felony, first-degree counts of possession of a controlled substance. If convicted on a single count, he could face a maximum of 40 years in prison and $400,000 in fines. Police were called to an Apple Valley apartment complex at approximately 12:40 a.m. on Friday, where they noticed a man digging through a vehicle. Fearing that the man may be …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
In Dakota County alone, nine drivers prosecuted for careless driving have killed a total of 14 people in recent years, according to the county attorney.
Careless or reckless drivers whose actions cause a deadly accident or severe injuries could face steeper penalties under a new bill proposed by District 51 Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL), who represents Eagan. The bill, SF 206, was authored by Carlson and introduced to the Senate on Jan. 31. Senators Jim Metzen (DFL), Katie Sieben (DFL) and Greg Clausen (DFL) are listed as co-authors on the legislation. Current Minnesota laws prevent prosecutors from charging careless drivers with anything more significant than a misdemeanor—even if that driver's behavior caused a death or severe injuries. In Minnesota, the maximum penalty for a misdemeanor crime is 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Carlson's proposal would allow drivers whose careless actions …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The Dakota County Attorney is calling for legislative action in the wake of the case against Kirk Edward Deamos, 23, who was involved in a fatal car wreck on Interstate 35W that left two men dead.
Like us on Facebook | Get our newsletter | Follow us on Twitter | Start a blog Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom has called for legislative reform after a Missouri man was sentenced to just one month for his role in an accident that killed two roadside workers in 2011. Late Wednesday, Kirk Edward Deamos, 23, of Raymore, MO pleaded guilty to careless driving. "Careless Driving" is a misdemeanor under Minnesota statute, with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Dakota County Judge Arlene Perkkio sentenced Deamos, 23, of Raymore, Mo., to 30 days in jail, 200 hours of community service and a $100 fine. Under current statute, Deamos could not be charged with a felony. Deamos was not drunk or high at the time of the …
Monday, December 10, 2012
In other crime news from around the South Metro region, a Rosemount man previously convicted of vehicular homicide is arrested again for DUI.
The following stories first appeared during the past week on Patch sites throughout the South Metro region. To read the full stories, click on the headline links. Woodward Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Murder Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom John Stephen Woodward was charged by the Rice County Attorney’s Office after Minnesota Correction Facility—Faribault officials uncovered a plot by Woodward to murder Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. Armed Robbery Suspects Indicted in Federal Court Eric Wade Forcier, 27, of Farmington and Julie Ann Campana, 23, of Apple Valley, were charged in Federal Court. Rosemount Man Previously Convicted of Vehicular Homicide Arrested Again for DUI Police arrested James Geraghty Bouchard on …
Friday, December 7, 2012
John Stephen Woodward was charged by the Rice County Attorney’s Office after Minnesota Correction Facility—Faribault officials uncovered a plot by Woodward to murder Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.
A Rice County jury of 12 on Friday found John Stephen Woodward guilty of conspiracy to commit premeditated first-degree murder of Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. Woodward was charged by the Rice County Attorney’s Office after Minnesota Correction Facility—Faribault officials uncovered the plot to kill Backstrom. Woodward had been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit premeditated first-degree murder: one charge for Backstrom and the other for Dakota County Judge Rex Stacey. Rice County Judge Thomas Neuville dismissed the count regarding Stacey earlier this week because of lack of evidence. Woodward was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison on the drug charge, in which he sold methamphetamine from his Inver …
Monday, December 19, 2011
Scott Bradley Cunningham, 42, of Inver Grove Heights and Holly Joann Swenson, 28, of Rosemount were denied contact with each other despite living together—judge is still considering decision.
Update (Dec. 19, 2011) Three of the four defendants in an early-December drug bust that netted 391 pounds of marijuana waived their rights to a speedy trial Monday morning in Dakota County court. District Court Judge Tim Wermager continued to April 9 the omnibus hearing for Scott Cunningham, Holly Swenson and Brian Speldrick to give their respective attorneys a chance to consider all components of the challenging case. "This is very complex case that involves a sophisticated drug distribution conspiracy involving two counties," Dakota County prosecutor Kevin Golden said in court. Two of the three defense attorneys for the trio had only just been retained within the last few days. Making matters more complicated at Monday morning's …
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Dakota County Drug Task Force agents seized almost 400 pounds of marijuana from an Inver Grove Heights home.
Three Dakota County residents and one from Faribault County are facing felony drug charges after an Inver Grove Heights drug bust that netted almost 400 pounds of marijuana. The street value of the seized marijuana was more than $1 million, according to Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom's office. Those charged are Scott Bradley Cunningham, 42, of Inver Grove Heights; Holly Joann Swenson, 28, of Rosemount; Brian Lee Speldrick, 52, of Inver Grove Heights; and Jerilyn Reis, 41, of Kiester, Minn. All four are charged with first-degree drug possession with intent to distribute and first-degree drug possession, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Cunningham, Swenson and Speldrick remained in …
Pat Hall
5:10 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
I am always sad when drivers whose careless actions causes a death or great bodily harm. Persons convicted of a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota need help and not just a sentence to serve so much time and or a fine. What we need is real reform. How about offering up a bill that treats the cause rather than the effect. We must get to the real issues and not simply the symptoms. more ›