Bemidji Man Faces Felony Gun Charge After Home Search

BEMIDJI, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – Jerrold Ryan Kemmer, 46, faces a felony firearm possession charge following a police search of a Bemidji residence.

According to a Beltrami County criminal complaint, investigators found a .22-caliber revolver and ammunition beneath a mattress.

The search occurred September 2, 2026, at a home on Bardwell Drive Northwest.

Prosecutors allege Kemmer was legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of a previous violent felony conviction.

Police Find Revolver During Bemidji Home Search

Bemidji police executed a search warrant at the residence around 6 p.m. on September 2.

According to court documents, investigators observed Kemmer leaving the property in a vehicle.

Police stopped his vehicle on U.S. Highway 71, just north of Paul Bunyan Drive.

The complaint states officers had probable cause to arrest Kemmer in a separate first-degree criminal sexual conduct investigation.

Meanwhile, investigators continued searching the residence.

Inside a bedroom identified as Kemmer’s, police reportedly discovered a .22-caliber revolver beneath a mattress.

Investigators also found a box of .22-caliber ammunition in the same area.

The firearm and ammunition were collected and secured as evidence, according to the complaint.

Witness Reports Earlier Gun Threat

Investigators also interviewed an adult male who was present during the search.

The witness described an alleged confrontation involving Kemmer in May 2026.

According to the complaint, Kemmer pulled a revolver from his waistband during that encounter.

The witness alleged Kemmer threatened him by saying he was fortunate he had not been shot.

The witness reportedly told investigators this was the only occasion he had seen Kemmer with the firearm.

The supplied complaint does not identify a separate threat charge arising from that reported encounter.

Previous Conviction Leads to Firearm Restriction

Prosecutors cite Kemmer’s June 2, 2008, felony fourth-degree assault conviction as the basis for his firearm restriction.

Under Minnesota Statute 624.713, certain people convicted of violent crimes cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

The criminal complaint alleges Kemmer violated this restriction by possessing the revolver and ammunition.

The current charge is classified as a felony.

Prior Convictions and Separate Pending Cases

The complaint also lists several earlier convictions, including theft, fleeing police, and a previous prohibited-person firearm offense.

These convictions are separate from the new firearm allegation.

Court documents also identify three first-degree criminal sexual conduct counts in a separate pending case.

Other pending cases involve alleged forgery and theft offenses.

Those pending allegations do not establish guilt and are not convictions.

Felony Gun Charge Carries Serious Penalties

The firearm charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison or a $30,000 fine, or both.

The complaint also cites a five-year mandatory minimum prison provision under Minnesota Statute 609.11.

Any sentence would depend on a conviction and applicable Minnesota sentencing rules.

The case is filed in Beltrami County District Court under number 04-CR-26-2255.

The provided court documents do not identify the next scheduled hearing.

Readers can search public case information through Minnesota Court Records Online.

Kemmer is presumed innocent of the pending allegations unless proven guilty in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.