Clay County (trfnews.i234.me) – A man from Horace, North Dakota, is now facing serious legal trouble in Clay County, Minnesota.
According to court documents, Nikolus Wayne Schnellbach has been charged with 18 felony counts of violating a no-contact order. The charges are considered felonies because of his prior convictions within the last ten years.
The case centers around Schnellbach’s actions in July and August, while he was being held at the Clay County Jail in Moorhead. Investigators say that during this time, he repeatedly contacted a protected party despite being barred by court order from doing so.
Records show that Schnellbach reached out to the protected individual more than 130 times. These communications included text messages, phone calls, and video calls made directly from the jail system.
Each of the 18 felony counts carries a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison. If convicted on all charges, the penalties could be substantial.
Court filings also highlight Schnellbach’s criminal history. He has prior convictions for simple assault and domestic violence, in addition to earlier assault charges.
This case highlights ongoing challenges faced by courts and correctional facilities in enforcing no-contact orders when inmates have access to jail communication systems. Officials stress that violations of this nature are treated as serious offenses meant to protect victims of past abuse.
For more information on Minnesota’s laws regarding no-contact orders, you can review resources provided by the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
