District Court
Kandiyohi County
* A 22-year-old Raymond man pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to a felony charge and made an initial appearance on another felony charge.
Jeremiah Judson Malvin faced felony charges from two separate incidents in June. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge for a fifth-degree controlled substance violation from a June 1 incident. He also appeared on a felony charge of criminal vehicular injury after a June 14 car crash.
Malvin pleaded guilty to the amended fifth-degree controlled substance charge Dec. 14. He originally faced a third-degree controlled substance charge along with a petty misdemeanor for the June 1 incident. As part of the plea agreement, the remaining charge was dismissed and prosecutor agreed to a stay of adjudication at sentencing.
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A stay of adjudication will remove the conviction from Malvin's record if he is compliant with his sentencing conditions.
Charges were filed in the case after Willmar police officers searched Malvin after smelling burnt marijuana on him. Malvin told police that the smell was from the alfalfa he worked around.
After searching Malvin, officers found a rolled marijuana joint, 3.4 grams of methamphetamine and $1,740 cash in his wallet.
The charge of criminal vehicular injury was filed against Malvin after he allegedly ran a stop sign and T-boned a pickup truck while under the influence of meth.
According to the complaint, Malvin was driving his Chevy Blazer around 6 a.m. June 14 when he ran the stop sign at County roads 1 and 3 and T-boned a pickup at high speeds. Both Malvin and the driver of the pickup were taken to Rice Memorial Hospital.
Malvin later told Kandiyohi County sheriff's deputies he had used meth earlier in the morning. Blood tests later showed meth still in Malvin's bloodstream, the complaint states.
The driver of the pickup suffered a spinal injury, broken ribs and several cuts that required stitches. An affidavit for restitution in the amount of $5,183.49 was also filed with the court.
Malvin is scheduled to appear in court again Jan. 22.
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* A Willmar couple who wrongfully obtained more than $2,500 worth of money from Kandiyohi County Family Services was sentenced Dec. 14.
Susan Ann Wold, 58, and Michael Wold, 54, were both charged with a felony count of theft - wrongfully obtaining assistance. The couple pleaded guilty to the charges Oct. 26 under the agreement that they would receive stays of imposition at sentencing. The couple also agreed to pay restitution.
On Dec. 14, Judge Michael J. Thompson issued a five-year stay of imposition on the Wolds' convictions. As a condition of the stay, the judge ordered both Michael and Susan to spend 15 days in jail, fined them each $50 and ordered them to serve 200 community service hours by April 1. Restitution in the amount of $2,542.13 was also ordered by Thompson.
If compliant with the conditions set at sentencing, the stay of imposition will remove the felony from the Wolds' records.
Charges were filed against the Wolds after an investigation by Family Services discovered both the Wolds were employed while receiving Medical Assistance. Medical Assistance is the state's Medicaid program for low-income families, seniors or people with disabilities
The complaint states that the Wolds applied for Medical Assistance from Family Services in May. At the time both claimed they were unemployed. Later investigation by Family Services discovered both the Wolds were employed when they applied for assistance. The Wolds were required to report any income they received in order to receive the assistance from Family Services.
* An 18-year-old Willmar man pleaded guilty Thursday on charges from two separate cases in which he harassed and assaulted an ex-girlfriend.
Rogelio Esquivel Torres faced felony charges of domestic assault by strangulation and terroristic threats. He also faced gross misdemeanor charges of harassment/stalking and misdemeanor charges of domestic assault. The charges stem from two separate incidents in July and October.
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Torres pleaded guilty to a charge of terroristic threats and a misdemeanor count of domestic assault. As part of the plea agreement, the remaining charges were dismissed and Torres agreed to pay restitution
Torres was initially charged after the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Department received a report July 14 that he had called his ex-girlfriend more than 100 times.
According to the complaint, Torres allegedly called the ex-girlfriend around 115 times over a five-day period. The woman knew the calls were from Torres because of her caller ID system. Another woman also received calls from Torres and several text and voice messages that made threats to kill someone, according to the complaint.
The calls allegedly made by Torres violated a no contact order signed June 30.
When contacted by a Kandiyohi County sheriff's deputy, Torres allegedly said the number on the caller ID was not his. He then gave the deputy another number, which was later found to be disconnected. According to the complaint, Virgin Mobile later confirmed the number on the caller ID to be registered in Torres' name.
More charges were filed after an October incident when Torres choked and punched his ex-girlfriend.
According to the complaint, the ex-girlfriend had asked Torres to give her a ride and had later gone with him to his home. Torres punched his ex-girlfriend in the face and choked her while at his home. He then drove her to Paynesville. She reported the assault to the Paynesville Police Department.
Torres is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 22.
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* A 31-year-old Willmar man was sentenced Dec. 12 on a felony charge of forgery after authorities discovered he had been using a false name to hold employment with Jennie-O Turkey Store.
Nacer Jesus Tabura Rivera was charged with a felony count of forgery along with a misdemeanor charge of giving a false name to a peace officer. He pleaded guilty to the forgery charge Nov. 20 under the agreement that the remaining charge would be dismissed. The state also agreed to remain silent during sentencing.
On Dec. 12, Judge Michael J. Thompson sentenced Rivera to 35 days in jail and fined him $50. Rivera was given credit for 35 days already spent in jail. A stay of imposition was issued on the conviction for five years under the agreement that Rivera try to obtain legal citizenship.
The stay of imposition will remove the felony from Rivera's record if he complies with the conditions set at sentencing and by probation.
Charges were filed against Rivera after a Kandiyohi County probation agent reported to the Willmar Police Department that Rivera was using a fraudulent name.
According to the complaint, the probation agent believed a man identified as Alberto Gonzalez Velez, later identified as Rivera, was using a false name. Rivera admitted to officers that he was using Velez as a fake name to work at Jennie-O Turkey Store. Rivera also appeared earlier in court on separate charges under the name of Alberto Gonzalez Velez.
* A 30-year-old Willmar man made an initial appearance Dec. 18 on felony charges of forgery after allegedly falsifying his name to gain employment.
Rolando Hernandez Hernandez faces felony charges of aggravated forgery and forgery along with gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor charges. He was conditionally released on a $3,000 bond Dec. 11.
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Charges were filed against Hernandez after the Willmar Police Department was alerted Nov. 22 that Hernandez was working at Jennie-O Turkey Store under a different name.
According to the complaint, Hernandez was allegedly working under the name of Alexander Rivera-Alverio. Police officers were able to collect several forms signed at Jennie-O under the name of Rivera-Alverio.
During an interview with officers, Hernandez allegedly admitted to using the fake name. He also showed officers a birth certificate and Mexican ID card under his real name.
Hernandez is scheduled to appear in court again Feb. 1.
