Initial appearances

Brandon Cooper Backhaus, 45, River Falls, pleaded not guilty and posted a $2,500 signature bond Sept. 5 on battery (domestic abuse) and disorderly conduct (domestic abuse) charges. A status conference is slated for 3 p.m. Nov. 10.

Umesh Ghaley, 26, Maplewood, Minn., pleaded not guilty and posted a $1,000 signature bond Sept. 4 on resisting or obstructing an officer and possess drug paraphernalia charges. A status conference is set for 2:15 p.m. Oct. 7.

Holger Romel Gonzalez Gonzalez, 23, River Falls, pleaded not guilty and posted a $500 signature bond Sept. 8 on an operate without valid license (second within three years) charge. A status conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 28.

Michelle Lynn Harris, 40, Red Wing, Minn., pleaded not guilty and posted a $2,000 signature bond Sept. 5 on battery (domestic abuse – infliction of physical pain or injury) and disorderly conduct (domestic abuse) charges. A status conference is slated for 10 a.m. Oct. 9.

Gloria Japon Japon, 34, Ellsworth, pleaded not guilty and posted a $500 signature bond Sept. 8 on an operate without valid license (third within three years) charge. A status conference is set for 9:15 a.m. Jan. 28.

Nathan Eric Kylander, 29, Prescott, pleaded not guilty and posted a $5,000 signature bond Sept. 8 on hit and run and resisting or obstructing an officer charges. A status conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 17.

Jesse Michael Merila-Frostman, 43, Brule, pleaded not guilty and posted a $1,000 signature bond Sept. 8 on two knowingly violate a domestic abuse order – injunction (domestic abuse) and six misdemeanor bail jumping charges. A status conference is slated for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 7.

Roman Morales Gomez, 40, Hudson, pleaded not guilty and posted a $500 signature bond Sept. 8 on an operate without valid license (second within three years) charge. A status conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 28.

Trey Thomas Myers, 17, Prescott, posted a $5,000 signature bond Sept. 8 on felony threat to cause bodily harm to certain individuals involved with a court or legal system, felony bail jumping, criminal damage to property, resisting or obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct charges. A preliminary hearing is set for 3:30 p.m. Oct. 15.

Alex Fernando Saltos Ona, 29, Hudson, pleaded not guilty and posted a $500 signature bond Sept. 8 on operating while revoked (alcohol related) and ignition interlock device tampering/failure to install/violate court order charges. A status conference is slated for 11 a.m. Nov. 19.

Benjamin Charles Souster, 52, Ellsworth, was ordered to pay $500 cash bond Sept. 5 on felony substantial battery (repeater), possession of THC (repeater), possess drug paraphernalia (repeater) and three felony bail jumping (repeater) charges. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 20.

Soren Straarup, 47, Ellsworth, pleaded not guilty and posted a $5,000 signature bond Sept. 4 on battery (domestic abuse) and disorderly conduct (domestic abuse) charges. A status conference is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. Nov. 4.

Closed cases

Nicholas Troy Goodwin, 33, Ellsworth, was convicted of contempt of court/disobey order Sept. 8, sentenced to one year in jail and fined $443. At a jury trial concluding Aug. 27, he was convicted of battery (domestic abuse – infliction of pain or injury). At the Sept. 8 sentencing hearing, he was sentenced to nine months in jail (178 days credit) and fined $543. He was found acquitted by the jury Aug. 27 of felony strangulation and suffocation, intimidate victim/use or attempt force and disorderly conduct (all with the domestic abuse – infliction of physical pain or injury modifier) charges. The charges stemmed from incidents March 12 and May 5.

Elizabeth Marie Christa Gustafson, 36, Maplewood, Minn., was convicted of disorderly conduct Sept. 8 and fined $443. The charge resulted from a July 26, 2024 incident.

Joseph Victor Hove, 21, Norway, Mich., was convicted of OWI-second and disorderly conduct (county/municipality) Sept. 8, sentenced to 15 day in jail, fined $1,894.80, and ordered to undergo an alcohol assessment and install an ignition interlock device after a 12-month driver’s license revocation. Operating with PAC > .02 under IID order and ignition interlock device tampering/failure to install/violate court order charges were dismissed. The charges stemmed from incidents Feb. 1 and Feb. 4.

A felony forgery – public record or copy charge against Sydney Ann Landgraf, 25, River Falls, was dismissed Sept. 8 upon completion of a diversion agreement. The charge resulted from a June 1, 2023 incident.

Kyi Win, 40, St. Paul, waived extradition Sept. 4 to Ramsey County, Minn., where he is charged with a felony.