CRIME AND COURTS

TRO dropped against sheriff in Schaffhausen case

A temporary restraining order filed against St. Croix County Sheriff John Shilts by public defender John Kucinski in the Aaron Schaffhausen murder case was lifted Tuesday afternoon following an arraignment hearing.

By Jon Echternacht , August 28, 2012

Schaffhausen stands mute in arraignment hearing

Court enters not guilty pleas in children’s murder case. A father charged with murder in the deaths of his three young daughters at a River Falls residence last month stood mute before the court in an arraignment hearing in St. Croix County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon.

By Jon Echternacht , August 28, 2012

Attorney wants family paid for Nancy Grace show treatment

Area News
-- Toni A. Medrano’s relatives blame a national talk show host in connection with the Cottage Grove woman’s decision to burn herself to death.

By Scott Wente , August 23, 2012

Hager City man would have faced murder charges had he not killed himself

Alan Sylte would face first-degree murder charges had he not killed himself after shooting a Lake City police officer who later died, the Wabasha County Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

July 31, 2012

Schaffhausen bound over in homicide case

A man accused in the murder of his three young daughters was bound over for trial in St. Croix County Circuit Court Tuesday morning. Judge Scott Needham found probable cause that Aaron Schaffhausen committed a felony and set an arraignment hearing for Aug. 28 at 4 p.m. when he will enter a plea.

By Jon Echternacht , July 24, 2012

Arrested driver: Drunk? Designated? Dyslexic?

River Falls police detained a 29-year-old local man downtown after 2 a.m. Sunday, July 15, for revving his truck, swerving, squealing his tires and for pretending to pull over before driving off again. When he was finally stopped, the officer said the man had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, but the man denied drinking, claiming to be the designated driver. The officer noted the man had no passengers and asked why he was slurring his words. The man replied that he had dyslexia. The officer noted that he knew people with dyslexia, a reading disorder caused by the brain’s inability to process certain words and symbols, and said they all spoke just fine.

By Phil Pfuehler , July 17, 2012

Schaffhausen appears in young girls' murder case

A man accused in the deaths of his three young daughters in a gruesome incident at a River Falls residence last Tuesday made his initial appearance in St. Croix County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon. District Attorney Eric Johnson said the throats were slit on all three girls.

By Jon Echternacht , July 12, 2012

Public meeting held in Arkansaw on sex offender relocation draws large crowd and worries

A panel of law enforcement officials from Pepin County and the state Department of Corrections tried their best to reassure deeply concerned residents of Arkansaw Wednesday evening they will be able to handle a new resident in the community, a violent sex offender who is going to be released into the community in the next two weeks.

By Sean Scallon , July 12, 2012

Matthys named new chief deputy

It turned out the committee tasked in finding Neil Gulbranson’s successor as Pierce County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy didn’t have to look far.

By Jason Schulte , June 17, 2012

Judge orders insurance company to pay over $150,000 in malpractice case

Judge Joseph Boles ordered an insurance company to pay a $151,825 judgment plus interest after it stopped defending an accountant in a professional malpractice case.

May 30, 2012

City of Prescott files suit in civil court

City of Prescott filed suit against Royal Oaks Holding Company and Royal Oaks Realty Inc., both of Shoreview, Minn.

May 02, 2012

Woman corrections guard found not guilty of sexual conduct with juvenile male inmates

Jurors acquitted former Minnesota Correctional Facility-Red Wing guard Suzanne Marie Walstrom on all counts this afternoon.

By Sarah Gorvin , April 25, 2012

Update: Jury acquits UWRF prof Barnett in sex assault case

In a verdict reached Saturday morning, a St. Croix County jury acquitted UW-River Falls professor Thomas William Barnett of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl last summer in a Hudson movie theater. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict Friday afternoon and evening and were excused at about 8 p.m. Friday, said St. Croix County Clerk of Court Lori Meyer. The seven-man, five-woman panel reconvened Saturday at 9 a.m. and just after 11 a.m. announced an acquittal on both counts.

By Doug Stohlberg , April 14, 2012

Trial begins for prof accused of sexual assault

Was he just a concerned adult warning a young teen about the consequences of sexual activity in a public place? Or did he assault the girl and hold her against her will?

By Judy Wiff , April 11, 2012

Spring Valley man sentenced to eight years prison for incest

A Spring Valley man will spend the next eight years in prison after Tuesday’s sentencing hearing in Pierce County Circuit Court.

By Jason Schulte , March 14, 2012