Long was responsible for handling deposits at the time. When confronted, she allegedly admitted to taking the money, saying she used it to pay rent and personal bills. She told her employer she intended to repay the funds and had returned a portion in October. Detroit Lakes police later interviewed Long, who again admitted to taking the money, describing it as a “loan” she planned to repay. She was terminated from her job following the discovery.
On August 22, 2025, Becker County District Judge Gretchen D. Thilmony sentenced Long on one felony count of theft involving more than $5,000. Two additional charges were dismissed under a plea agreement. She was sentenced to 30 days in the Becker County Jail, with work release privileges, and ordered to pay $200 in fines and fees. Court records show she paid $6,705.50 in restitution in March 2024.
Long was also placed on five years of supervised probation. Her probation conditions require her to complete cognitive skills training, undergo a diagnostic assessment, and follow all recommended aftercare. The sentence was a stay of imposition, meaning the felony could be reduced to a misdemeanor if she successfully completes probation.
On September 4, the State Public Defender’s Office in St. Paul was granted access to Long’s case files for an appellate or post-conviction review of the case, according to court records.
For more information on Minnesota theft statutes, visit the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Heidi Melissa Long