BRAINERD, Crow Wing County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Brainerd man accused in a violent 2024 case has pleaded guilty to five felony charges.
Chad Aanerud, 36, entered guilty pleas in Crow Wing County Court.
He had faced 21 felony charges in the case.
Several charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Charges in the plea
Court records say Aanerud pleaded guilty to these five felonies:
- First-degree murder while committing a felony.
- Kidnapping, to help a felony or flight.
- First-degree burglary, with a dangerous weapon.
- Second-degree assault, with a dangerous weapon.
- Second-degree assault, with a dangerous weapon.
Other charges were dropped in the agreement.
Those dismissed counts included arson and sexual assault charges.
Allegations from the criminal complaint
According to the complaint, the case began around 1:50 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2024.
The complaint alleges Aanerud sexually assaulted a woman.
The complaint alleges he set a home on fire.
It also alleges he stole firearms from the home.
The complaint says the woman and her children ran to a neighbor’s house.
The neighbor was 62-year-old Lyle Maske.
The complaint says Maske confronted Aanerud.
It alleges Aanerud shot and killed Maske.
The complaint says Aanerud forced the woman and her children into a van.
An AMBER Alert was issued later that morning.
The van was later spotted near Little Falls, the complaint says.
Aanerud was arrested after the stop, according to reports.
Authorities said the children were not hurt.
The woman had injuries, according to reports.
Sentencing date set
Aanerud’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 17.
The hearing is expected in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd.
How to follow the case
Public court case information is available through Minnesota Court Records Online.
Search tools are found here: MCRO Case Search.
General court access guidance is here: Minnesota Judicial Branch: Access Case Records.
AMBER Alert information in Minnesota is posted by the state here: Minnesota DPS: AMBER Alert.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.