A St. Cloud man with a documented history of domestic abuse has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to drug and assault charges. Craig Allen Zuleger, 42, received credit for 438 days already served, with court filings tying his plea to a December drug arrest and a February domestic incident involving his children.
According to KNSI, the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force tracked Zuleger to a St. Cloud hotel in December 2024 on an unrelated Wright County warrant. Investigators reported finding more than 10 ounces of methamphetamine in his car, in his hotel room and in the purse of a woman staying with him. That haul formed the backbone of the drug case and ultimately led to his first-degree possession plea.
Why the quantity matters
Under Minnesota law, larger amounts of methamphetamine quickly push a case into first-degree controlled-substance territory. The statute treats possession of 50 grams or more containing meth as a first-degree offense. Authorities say they seized more than 10 ounces, roughly 280 grams, which is well beyond that threshold and carries a potential prison term of up to 30 years. As outlined in Minnesota Statutes §152.021, penalties climb with bigger quantities and prior convictions.
Court records and past convictions
Court documents show Zuleger failed to appear for a January 31 court date, which led to a new warrant. On February 16, 2025, police were called after a woman reported that he had forced his way into a home and thrown her to the ground while her two younger children slept nearby. Records also show Zuleger was previously convicted in 2020 of misdemeanor domestic assault and fifth-degree assault. As reported by KNSI, prosecutors in Stearns County had already been pursuing related charges before the pleas and this week’s sentence.
What comes next
Zuleger received an eight-year prison term with credit for 438 days already served, although a formal sentencing hearing had not yet been scheduled. Any upcoming court dates and filings will appear on the Stearns County District Court docket; the court’s website lists calendars and contact details. Stearns County District Court handles adult criminal cases in the county.
The case highlights how task forces that span multiple counties can intersect with local prosecutors when large drug seizures and alleged family violence collide in a single defendant’s file. Victims or witnesses with information are asked to contact the Stearns County Attorney’s Office or local law enforcement as the case moves toward final disposition.
