Initial appearances

Tyler Allen Berg, 22, Prescott, pleaded not guilty and posted a $500 signature bond Dec. 15 on an operating while revoked (alcohol related). A status conference is slated for 3:30 p.m. Jan. 13.

A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Josselyn Gualan Gualan, 21, River Falls, who missed a Dec. 15 initial appearance on an operate without valid license (second with three years) charge. A new initial appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 18.

David Tyrone Hayes, 56, Lake City, Minn., posted a $10,000 signature bond Dec. 15 on felony bail jumping (two counts), felony possession of THC (second+ offense) and carry concealed weapon charges. A status conference is set for 3:15 p.m. Jan. 12.

Cristal Joy Knuth, 42, Hager City, pleaded not guilty and posted a $1,000 signature bond Dec. 15 on possession of THC and possess drug paraphernalia charges. A status conference is slated for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12.

Franklin Vincent Masterson, 45, River Falls, pleaded not guilty and posted a $1,000 signature bond on a disorderly conduct (domestic abuse) charge. A status conference is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. Jan. 13.

Paytton Jo Mattren, 19, New Richmond, pleaded not guilty and posted a $1,000 signature bond Dec. 15 on a hit and run charge. A status conference is set for 3 p.m. Jan. 13.

Jason Allen Schaar, 47, River Falls, pleaded not guilty and posted a $10,000 signature bond Dec. 15 on a fourth degree sexual assault charge. A status conference is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. Jan. 13.

A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Steven Robert Seekamp, 55, Somerset, who missed a Dec. 15 initial appearance on a felony bail jumping (repeater) charge. An initial appearance is set for 10 a.m. Dec. 19.

A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Victor Sherbanenko, 67, Mendota Heights, Minn., who missed a Dec. 15 initial appearance on resisting or obstructing an officer, possession of cocaine/coca and possess drug paraphernalia charges. The charges were dismissed Dec. 16 when the court learned that Sherbanenko is deceased.

Olivia Katherine Vanasse, 22, River Falls, pleaded not guilty and posted a $2,500 signature bond Dec. 15 on possession of THC, possess drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor bail jumping charges. A status conference is set for 3:15 p.m. Jan. 14.

Deferred cases

Charles Edward Foy, 71, Ellsworth, pleaded guilty to and entered into a deferred judgment of conviction agreement Dec. 12 on a disorderly conduct (domestic abuse) charge. The charge resulted from a July 29 incident.

Michelle Lynn Harris, 40, Red Wing, Minn., pleaded no contest to and entered into a deferred judgment of conviction agreement Dec. 15 on a disorderly conduct (domestic abuse) charge. A battery (domestic abuse – infliction of physical pain or injury) charge was dismissed. The charges stemmed from a Sept. 4 incident.

Austin E. Lardani, 29, Prescott, pleaded guilty to and entered into a deferred judgment of conviction agreement on an operating while revoked (alcohol related) charge Dec. 11. An ignition interlock device tampering/failure to install/violate court order charge was dismissed. The charges resulted from a Sept. 3 incident.

Ashley Sue Ronning, 34, Menomonie, pleaded no contest to and entered into a deferred judgment of conviction agreement on a felony possession of methamphetamine (as party to a crime) charge Dec. 15. A possess drug paraphernalia (as party to a crime) charge was dismissed. The charges stemmed from a July 17 incident.

Myla Dove Smith, 23, Red Wing, Minn., pleaded guilty to and entered into a deferred judgment of conviction agreement on possess amphetamine/LSD/psilocin and possession of cocaine/coca charges Dec. 12. Possess amphetamine/LSD/psilocin (two counts), possession of THC and possess drug paraphernalia charges were dismissed. The charges resulted from an Aug. 19 incident.

Kathleen Marie Voss, 22, River Falls, pleaded guilty to and entered into a deferred judgment of conviction agreement Dec. 11 on a disorderly conduct charge. The charge stemmed from a June 5 incident.

Closed cases

Mario Joseph Ebert, 24, Prescott, was convicted of disorderly conduct (domestic abuse) Dec. 15, sentenced to one year’s probation and fined $543. A battery (domestic abuse) charge was dismissed. The charges resulted from an Aug. 20 incident.

Pierre Maxim Gehlhar, 21, Eagan, Minn., was convicted of resisting/failing to stop Dec. 11 and fined $943. The charge is eligible for expungement if he doesn’t have any new criminal violations. The charge stemmed from a July 27 incident.

Casey Jeffery Heitzmann, 38, Hudson, was convicted of retail theft – intentionally take (repeater) and misdemeanor bail jumping (repeater) Dec. 15 and fined $534. Retail theft – intentionally take (repeater) ad misdemeanor bail jumping (repeater) charges were dismissed. The charges resulted from incidents Nov. 12 and Nov. 13.

Layne Willis Jackson, 25, Elmwood, was convicted of operate without carrying license and fined $277.80 Dec. 15. The charge stemmed from a May 2 incident.

Whitney Ann O’Neil, 49, Ellsworth, was convicted of battery (domestic abuse), sentenced to one year’s probation and fined $543 Dec. 11. The charge resulted from a Sept. 21 incident.

Eric Kaprice Richard, 35, Maplewood, Minn., was convicted of neglecting a child (specified harm did not occur) Dec. 11, sentenced to one year’s probation and fined $443. The charge stemmed from an Aug. 1, 2023 incident.

Dustin Michael Macheska Sieben, 37, Hastings, Minn., was convicted of possession of THC and fined $267 Dec. 12. A possess drug paraphernalia charge was dismissed. The charges resulted from a Jan. 4 incident.

Aaron Jon Siebert, 45, Prairie Farm, was convicted of misdemeanor bail jumping and fined $443 Dec. 15. Felony bail jumping, battery and knowingly violate a domestic abuse order – injunction charges were dismissed. The charges stemmed from a June 8, 2024 incident.

Joshua David Swanson, 34, Amery, was convicted of felony bail jumping, possession of THC and felony strangulation and suffocation (domestic abuse) Dec. 11, sentenced to three years of probation and fined $1,579. Felony first-degree recklessly endangering safety (use of a dangerous weapon, domestic abuse – threat), battery (domestic abuse – infliction of physical pai or injury), intentionally point firearm at person (domestic abuse – threat) and disorderly conduct (domestic abuse, use of dangerous weapon) charges were read in but dismissed. Felony bail jumping and possess drug paraphernalia charges were dismissed. The charges resulted from incidents Sept. 3 and Jan. 28.