Records, Aug. 22, 2006

Names released of two people injured in Sunday parachute accident

WILLMAR -- Names of the two victims injured Sunday when the ultralight aircraft they were flying crashed were released Monday by Meeker County authorities.

Donald Henry Kruckenberg, 66, and Barbara Ann Rix, 63, both of Litchfield, were both injured Sunday afternoon when the motorized parachute they were riding in crashed into a field near the intersection of 360th Avenue and 667th Avenue about four miles south of Watkins.

The crash happened around 4:45 p.m. Kruckenberg and Rix both suffered broken bones and other injuries.

Kruckenburg was taken by Life Link Air Ambulance to St. Cloud Hospital with unknown injuries. Rix was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital by Watkins Ambulance.

Meeker County Sheriff Mike Hirman said the accident happened after the aircraft caught a gust of wind. Kruckenberg, who was piloting the craft, allegedly tried to throttle up, but could not get enough power and the aircraft crashed.

Watkins Fire Department also assisted at the scene.

District Court

Kandiyohi County

* A 20-year-old Willmar man was sentenced Monday on a felony charge and gross misdemeanor charge, after making a plea agreement in July.

Joseph Paul Marcus pleaded guilty to an amended felony charge of second-degree burglary -- liability for crimes of another, and a gross misdemeanor charge for having possession of a replica BB gun on school property.

Marcus was sentenced to 365 days in jail for the gross misdemeanor charge by Judge Michael J. Thompson, of which 215 days were stayed. He was also fined $3,000, but $2,500 of the fine was stayed. Marcus was fined another $1,000 for the felony charge.

The charges stem from two separate cases.

The gross misdemeanor charge was filed after a series of windows were shot out during the period of April 14 through April 16.

Authorities were able to link the BB gun to Marcus, who allegedly left the gun wrapped in a shirt on the Kennedy Elementary School playground. The gun was found by authorities who said it was loaded and that the gun's safety mechanism was off.

The felony charge was filed after a Jan. 30 incident when a homeowner found Marcus allegedly burglarizing the home.

Marcus was originally charged with two felony counts of first-degree burglary and first-degree burglary -- liability for crimes of another, along with misdemeanor charge of theft.

* A 53-year-old Raymond man made his first appearance Thursday facing a charge of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Gary Charles Grack was released Thursday on his own recognizance by Judge Donald M. Spilseth. Grack was charged after a July 6 incident when he allegedly pinned down a woman and pulled her pants down at a Kandi Works developmental achievement center.

The complaint states that both Grack and the woman are developmentally disabled.

An appointment has been scheduled to determine if Grack is capable of understanding the charges against him, according to a court document filed by First Assistant County Attorney Connie Crowell.

Grack was found outside the building allegedly pinning the woman between the wall and the ground with her pants around her knees. The complaint alleges Grack was trying to pull her underwear off. Grack had to be pulled off the woman and would not respond to verbal commands, the complaint states.

An employee at the center was alerted to the situation by another client.

According to the complaint, Grack has tried to sexually assault female victims on four other occasions. Two of the previously documented assaults were against minors.

* A 33-year-old Belgrade woman made her first appearance Monday facing three felony charges for allegedly forging a prescription.

Kristal Jean Hicks is facing two charges of fifth-degree controlled substance crime and one charge of aggravated forgery for the Aug. 17 incident.

Judge Michael J. Thompson set unconditional bail at $10,000. Hicks was conditionally released on her own recognizance.

Charges were filed after Willmar police officers were called to Cub Pharmacy regarding a forged prescription.

Hicks allegedly changed a prescription for 60 10-mg pills to 60 20-mg pills.

Hicks denied changing the prescription.

* A 20-year-old Pennock man made his first appearance Friday on felony charges of vandalism and terroristic threats.

Carlos Rueben Espinoza is facing six charges, two of which are felonies, for an Aug. 16 incident when he allegedly assaulted three individuals in Willmar.

Judge Donald M. Spilseth set unconditional bail Friday at $45,000.

Espinoza is charged with felony counts of first-degree criminal damage to property and terroristic threats.

The complaint states that Espinoza took several swings at one individual, and then allegedly threw items at a woman holding an infant. Espinoza also damaged another individual's vehicle by hitting it and throwing objects at it, according to the complaint.

Officers later found Espinoza driving his vehicle while more than two times over the legal blood-alcohol limit.

* A 24-year-old Willmar man made his first appearance Friday on a felony controlled substance crime charge.

Samuel Alejandro Gonzalez Alvarado is facing a second-degree charge of possession of a controlled substance and several other misdemeanor charges after a traffic stop Aug. 16. Alvarado was later found to have multiple aliases and several outstanding warrants.

Judge Donald M. Spilseth set unconditional bail Friday at $100,000.

According to the complaint, Alvarado was stopped by Willmar police for having only one headlight working on his vehicle.

Alvarado was placed under arrest for driving after cancellation. During a search of his vehicle and him, officers found a bag of marijuana and two bags of methamphetamine.

Alvarado was later found to have three Minnesota driver's licenses under three different names. The two aliases also had two active warrants.

Identity theft

WILLMAR -- A person reported their identity stolen to the Willmar Police Department around 10:22 a.m. Monday along the 800 block of Pleasant View Drive Southeast.

The identity was reportedly being used by a person in Worthington.

Theft

WILLMAR -- The theft of a red, 10-speed Schwinn bike was reported to the Willmar Police Department around 9:50 p.m. Sunday along the 600 block of Ann Street Southeast.

Vandalism

WILLMAR -- A window and screen were reported damaged to the Willmar Police Department around 9:30 p.m. Sunday along the 900 block of Third Street Southeast.