A 51-year-old Rochert man is facing criminal charges in Becker County after deputies say a household argument turned into a shotgun scare inside an Erie Township home. According to the criminal complaint, he grabbed a shotgun during the dispute and used it to intimidate family members, although prosecutors say he did not point the weapon at anyone. The Feb. 11 incident led to a felony second-degree assault charge and a related misdemeanor domestic-assault count. Court records show he posted a $25,000 bond on Feb. 12 and was released under conditions that include a domestic no-contact order, a ban on possessing firearms, and other restrictions. His next appearance is set for March 9.
Details from the criminal complaint
According to the Detroit Lakes Tribune, three Becker County deputies responded to the home after a report of an intoxicated person with a firearm. When they arrived, they found a woman outside who was trying to move her children away from the residence. Investigators say the dispute started over household chores and escalated when the defendant allegedly pulled a longer two-tone brown shotgun from a gun cabinet and used it to intimidate people inside the home. The complaint notes that he did not point the gun at anyone. The Tribune reports that court records list bond conditions that include no contact with the alleged victims, a one-time supervised visit to collect personal belongings, and orders to stay out of bars and liquor stores while the case is pending.
What the charges carry
Under Minnesota law, using a dangerous weapon during an assault is charged as second-degree assault, a serious offense that can mean prison time and significant fines. According to Minnesota Statutes 609.222, assault in the second degree with a dangerous weapon is punishable by up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to $14,000. The state’s domestic-assault law defines acts intended to cause fear of immediate bodily harm as misdemeanors that can be enhanced based on prior convictions, and a conviction can also trigger a prohibition on possessing firearms. Those provisions are detailed in Minnesota Statutes 609.2242.
Next steps in court
The case is scheduled for a March 9 hearing in Becker County District Court in Detroit Lakes. Early court appearances typically cover arraignment and confirmation of any pretrial conditions the judge chooses to impose. Judge Gretchen D. Thilmony is a district court judge who sits in Becker County, and the case will proceed through the local court process at the Becker County courthouse in Detroit Lakes.
