Bemidji Man Charged in Alleged Domestic Assault

BEMIDJI, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji man faces a felony domestic assault charge after an alleged June 1 incident.

Aaron Robert Evenson, 43, was charged in Beltrami County District Court. The amended complaint lists one felony domestic assault count.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. It also carries a possible $10,000 fine.

A conviction may require at least 45 days in jail. The charge was filed under Minnesota’s domestic assault laws.

Witness Reported Assault in Yard

Deputies were called to a Page Lane Northwest home at about 1:26 p.m.

A witness reported seeing a man strike a woman in the yard. The woman later identified Evenson as her boyfriend.

She said the two had been arguing before officers arrived. She first described the incident as only verbal.

She later said Evenson grabbed and pulled her upper arm. She said she feared he might strike her.

A roommate told investigators she heard Evenson yelling. However, the roommate said she did not see the reported assault.

Aaron Robert Evenson

Another witness told deputies that a video captured part of the encounter.

The complaint says the video showed Evenson walking toward the woman while pointing at her.

He allegedly yelled at her before slapping the lower part of her face.

The woman appeared to move backward after the alleged slap, according to the complaint.

After learning about the video, she described the slap as playful. She said she had forgotten to mention it earlier.

Evenson allegedly left before deputies arrived. A witness later reported that he returned and parked inside a garage.

Deputies ordered him to leave the residence. He later walked outside and was arrested without further incident.

During an interview, Evenson denied assaulting the woman. He said the couple had been playing around.

He said he may have grabbed her arm. However, he said he could not remember doing so.

He also admitted swinging toward her but claimed he missed on purpose.

The complaint says Evenson has two qualifying domestic violence-related convictions from 2023.

Those prior cases involved an order for protection violation and felony stalking conduct.

More information about Minnesota criminal laws is available through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.

Public court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

A criminal complaint contains allegations. Evenson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.