Becker County ( trfnews.i234.me ) – A White Earth man has been sentenced in Becker County District Court on a felony charge of violating a no-contact order within 10 years of two or more prior convictions.
According to court documents, 44-year-old Craig Daniel Bellanger was originally facing a felony first-degree burglary charge. That charge was dismissed on March 24 after prosecutors stated that new evidence surfaced, which would have prevented them from meeting the burden of proof at trial.
Records show the violation occurred on February 3, when Bellanger broke a no-contact order. Details of the incident were not made available in the online court summary. Prosecutors moved forward with the no-contact charge, which carried a felony classification due to Bellanger’s prior convictions.
On September 23, Becker County District Judge Gretchen D. Thilmony sentenced Bellanger to 21 months in prison at St. Cloud. He was given credit for 233 days already served in custody. Court filings also note he will be required to pay $210 in fines and court fees, with payment to come from his prison earnings.
This sentencing highlights Minnesota’s stricter penalties for repeat offenders who violate court-ordered protections. Officials say no-contact orders are put in place to protect victims and that multiple violations can quickly escalate to felony-level charges. More information on protective orders and enforcement in Minnesota can be found through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
