Opening arguments heard in Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s burglary trial

DETROIT LAKES Minn Opening arguments in the burglary circumstance for a Minnesota state senator Tuesday painted her in two different lights prosecutors disclosed she was a person intent on stealing while the defense portrayed her as a concerned stepdaughter Sen Nicole Mitchell DFL-Woodbury Sen Nicole Mitchell a Democratic-Farmer-Laborer lawmaker from Woodbury was charged with two felony burglary counts after she was arrested in her stepmother s house early in the morning of April If uncovered guilty Mitchell could face prison time The prosecutor Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald opened his argument with a report attributed to Mitchell as she was arrested in her stepmother s house I know I did something bad I ask that you specifically remember those words throughout the trial McDonald declared During her arrest Mitchell made clear confessions McDonald disclosed He commented evidence in the trial will show the residence Mitchell entered was not her home that she was not invited and that she pried a window open with a crowbar The defendant entered her stepmother s home with a purpose to steal McDonald declared The defense would show evidence of family conflict and terse exchanges between Nicole Mitchell and her stepmother Carol Mitchell following the death of Nicole Mitchell s father But grief and frustration do not justify burglary McDonald disclosed The defense Her attorney Bruce Ringstrom Jr described her as a concerned stepdaughter who entered the home to check on her stepmother who has Alzheimer s infection He started by telling the jury about Nicole Mitchell how she is a hard worker how she often felt more secure opening up to her stepmother than her biological mother and how she has balanced jobs with family and serving in the military Our defense is there is no clear roadmap for helping an aging parent there can be good days and bad days Ringstrom declared As police were called to the house the morning of her arrest Nicole Mitchell did not run away he announced Nicole Mitchell s intent is to check on Carol Mitchell A burglar runs a concerned child stays he commented Nicole Mitchell s intent when she entered her stepmother s house is the real issue in the incident he declared noting the defense does not dispute that she entered the house without consent There are two doable reasons for Nicole Mitchell to enter the house Ringstrom noted to steal or to check on Carol Mitchell Unless the state s evidence can rule out that she was there to check on her stepmother the verdict must be not guilty Ringstrom argued Multiple observers After opening arguments the jury heard from multiple bystanders in the episode a dispatcher with the Becker County Sheriff s Department who took Carol Mitchell s call a then-Detroit Lakes Police Department patrol officer who called to Carol Mitchell s house and Carol Mitchell Nicole Mitchell was charged during the Minnesota legislative session Charges against her proved a point of contention in a divided Senate during the last two sessions DFL leaders barred her from participating in committee assignments or party caucus meetings Senate Republicans called for her resignation and unsuccessfully tried to oust her from the Senate The felony burglary charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of six months in jail or a county workhouse and a maximum sentence of years in prison and a fine Felony possession of burglary tools carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine Related Articles Weeklong burglary trial for Minnesota Sen Nicole Mitchell begins Natural organic reduction or human composting now burial option in MN Letters Yes what does happen when laws are only applied based on who is in power Gov Tim Walz calls special voting process for Melissa Hortman s House seat Sheriff Bob Fletcher critiques agency info-sharing after lawmaker shootings