UPDATE: ‘Suspected controlled substances’ note in senator’s court docs result of template, rush
(ABC 6 News) – The Becker County attorney’s office clarified Thursday that controlled substances were not found during the arrest or investigation of Sen. Nicole Mitchell.
Brian W. McDonald, the Becker County Attorney, said in fact that he had used a court document template without adjusting it for Mitchell’s case.
“In my haste to provide the disclosure materials to the defense as quickly as possible, I utilized a “template” form that we use felony cases, including controlled substance type cases,” McDonald wrote in an email.
“In hindsight, I should have removed the paragraphs relating to controlled substances and the BCA lab,” McDonald wrote. “I am not aware of any controlled substances recovered in this case, the Complaint does not reference any facts related to controlled substances, and Ms. Mitchell is not charged with any controlled substance offenses.”
A new, amended disclosure discovery was filed Thursday, May 2.
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(ABC 6 News) – Court documents alleged that ‘suspected controlled substances’ were discovered in the arrest of Minnesota Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) last week.
According to documents filed by Becker County Tuesday, April 30, ‘suspected controlled substances’ have been sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Forensic Science Laboratory for scientific testing.
It goes on to say, ‘a small portion of each item tested will be consumed in the testing process, which will change the weight of the item’.
There is no clarification as to how the substances were discovered or what they are at this point.
Mitchell is charged with 1st degree burglary after allegedly breaking into a residence while the tenant was inside last Mon. The criminal complaint also alleges Mitchell stole items from the home.
Mitchell claims the residence is that of her stepmothers and she had broken into the home through the window to claim items of her late father, including his ashes.
RELATED: Minnesota state senator arrested on suspicion of burglary – ABC 6 News – kaaltv.com
Mitchell says she has no plans to resign, and is due back in court on June 10.