Bemidji Man Charged in Domestic Assault Case
Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji man is facing felony and gross misdemeanor domestic assault charges following an alleged July 6 incident in Beltrami County.
Joseph Richard Norton Faces New Charges
Joseph Richard Norton, 30, of Bemidji, is charged in Beltrami County District Court with felony domestic assault and gross misdemeanor domestic assault.
The charges stem from an investigation into an alleged incident involving a family or household member.
Court documents state the alleged offense happened on or about July 6, 2026, in Beltrami County.
The felony charge alleges Norton caused fear of immediate bodily harm or death to a household member.
The complaint states the charge involves a previous history of qualified domestic violence-related offenses.
Joseph Richard Norton
Authorities Respond After Report of Distress
According to the criminal complaint, a concerned citizen contacted authorities after receiving a phone call from a relative.
The caller reported the relative sounded distressed and said they were in danger.
The complaint states the concern involved Norton and his girlfriend.
Authorities later located Norton and the woman at a residence in Beltrami County.
Investigators reported seeing signs of injuries, including a bleeding lip, watery eyes, bruises, and other marks.
The complaint alleges the victim reported Norton had struck her and cut her hair.
Previous Criminal History Listed
Court documents include a review of Norton’s prior criminal record.
The record lists previous convictions involving domestic assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, firearm violations, drug offenses, and obstruction-related charges.
Listed convictions include a 2022 domestic assault conviction in Stearns County.
The record also includes a 2016 conviction for domestic assault by strangulation in Cass County.
Other listed convictions involve firearm-related offenses and drug crimes in multiple Minnesota counties.
Case Moves Forward in Beltrami County Court
The complaint states the charges are based on probable cause.
Norton remains the defendant in the case.
All criminal charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
More information about Minnesota court records can be found through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
Copyright 2026 TRF News. All rights reserved.
I’m Adrian Cole, reporting for TRF News.