Talking About Bullying and Domestic Abuse

Hennepin County, Minnesota sent this bulletin at 10/08/2012 03:58 PM CDT
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October 8, 2012

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Michael O. Freeman
Hennepin County Attorney
300 S. Sixth St.
Minneapolis, MN  55487
612-348-5550
www.hennepinattorney.org
citizeninfo@co.hennepin.mn.us
https://www.facebook.com/HennepinAttorney

IN THIS ISSUE

Domestic Abuse and Your Safety

Bullying Prevention

Restorative Justice at the Children's Theatre Company

Obtaining Justice - Court Outcomes

Teenager pleads guilty in homeless man's death

Andre Zedrick Steward, Jr. pleaded guilty Monday, September 24th to a single count of second-degree unintentional murder in the beating death of a homeless man, Harry Lee Brown, in June.

Career criminal sentenced to 28 years in prison

Hennepin County District Court Judge Kerry Meyer sentenced Donald Ellis, 56, of West St. Paul, to the long prison term because he had been breaking into cars, stealing purses and using stolen credit cards his entire adult life. He also was ordered to pay a total restitution of $25,000 to 25 victims.
This is one of the longest sentences handed down in the state for property crimes, according to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.  “He has been a thorn in the side of residents and police departments throughout the Twin Cities metro area and it took a lot of hard work by police and especially assistant Hennepin County Attorney Diane Krenz to put him away for a long time."

Guity plea in Facebook solicitation case

Michael Hamer, 44, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty to solicitation of a child to engage in sexual conduct after he contacted Crystal Little League players on Facebook. 
Hamer will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Nov. 16.

Vice-thrower pleads guilty

Gerret Parks, 40, of Bloomington pleaded guilty to first-degree assault for throwing a vise out of his car which smashed the windshield of another car and seriously injured Jon Stacke, an Iraq War veteran.
Parks, on numerous occasions in December, January and February, went driving in the Bloomington area and threw bottles and other heavy objects out his car window so they would hit on-coming cars. 
He was sentenced to 75 months and ordered to pay restitution not only to Stacke, but to the other people whose cars he damaged, even though those charges were dropped.

More Hennepin County Information

 Domestic Abuse and Your Safety

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Bullying Prevention Month 


Too many women, children and teens suffer in silence. Physical, emotional and psychological abuse take place in homes and schools in urban, suburban and rural communities. This month is a time for intentional conversations about these difficult issues.

Do your part to make Hennepin County a safer place by talking about domestic violence and bullying and sharing the resources below.  

Raising Awareness of Domestic Violence 

Approximately 1.3 million women are physically assaulted by an intimate partner each year in Minnesota, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 

Too Many Cases Involve Escalating Violence

Just last week, a Hennepin County jury convicted Prince Oliver Moore Jr. on two counts of first-degree murder in the brutal killing of his wife. He was sentenced to life in prison.  

“We are pleased that the jury quickly convicted this brutal man,” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said. 

“October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this case shows how much work remains to be done. Too often, women silently suffer beatings at the hands of boyfriends and husbands. Sadly, we see too many cases where the violence doesn’t end until the woman is killed.” 

"Domestic Abuse and Your Safety"

To raise awareness about domestic violence, and provide resources, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has collaborated with ECHO (Emergency, Community, Health, and Outreach) and other partners to offer an educational video program, "Domestic Abuse and Your Safety."  

The video will air on tpt’s Minnesota Channel and public access television stations across Minnesota on Sunday, October 21 and Sunday, October 28 at 7:00 pm. Shows will be in basic English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, and Lao. The program will also be available with English captions for the deaf and hard of hearing. 

Tune in or watch the video online at www.echominnesota.org. You can participate in Domestic Violence Awareness Month by spreading the word about this program.

"We hope that the excellent work by ECHO in making and distributing this program will reduce domestic abuse throughout Minnesota,” said Mike Freeman.

If you or someone you know needs help

  • If you are in immediate danger, call 911
  • Call the Domestic Abuse Service Center at 612-348-5073 or 612-348-2620 (TDD) or visit the center on the A Level of Hennepin County Government Center
  • Call the Minnesota Domestic Violence Crisis Line 24 hours a day at 1-866-223-1111

Bullying Prevention

Last year, Governor Dayton convened a Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying. It was created to examine the state of bullying, harassment, and intimidation in Minnesota Schools. Willie Bridges of Hennepin County Attorney's Office Juvenile Division was a member of the Task Force. You can read their recommendations online.

Here are some resources you can use to talk to the young people in your life about bullying and how to help them be safe at school and online:

Restorative Justice Community Action at the Children's Theatre Company

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office Juvenile Prosecution division participated in a Forum on Forgiveness that used the production of Buccaneers to prompt a conversation about restorative justice. Faith groups, youth workers, community members, Children's Theatre Company staff and others engaged in this dialogue.