Becker County (trfnews.i234.me) – Lukas Devlen Fineday, 27, of rural Ponsford, Minnesota, has been sentenced to state prison on two separate felony charges after a disturbing domestic violence case involving strangulation, imprisonment with zip ties, and threats with a machete. The case, originally filed in Becker County District Court, recently returned from the Minnesota Court of Appeals with a partial reversal—but no change in sentencing.
DOMESTIC ASSAULT & STRANGULATION CASE
According to court records, on May 19, 2023, deputies responded to a report of a woman being beaten at a residence in Ponsford. They found Fineday asleep in a camper, while the victim was hiding under a bed inside.
The woman, who was in a relationship with Fineday, reported that he:
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Choked her repeatedly, tightening his grip when she screamed
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Caused visible bruising on her neck, arms, and chest
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Threw a bottle at her head
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Allegedly drank Jim Beam and became violent while intoxicated
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Used zip ties to bind her hands and feet, leaving her restrained until morning
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Cut the zip ties with a machete, which deputies later recovered along with the restraints
A deputy documented that the bruising pattern matched her account—consistent with strangulation using both hands.
SENTENCING & PRISON TIME
On November 22, 2023, Judge Gretchen Thilmony sentenced Fineday to:
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28 months in prison for felony domestic assault by strangulation and false imprisonment
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Credit for 117 days served in jail
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Ordered to pay $125 in court fines and fees, to be deducted from prison earnings
SEPARATE VIOLATION: NO-CONTACT ORDER CASE
In a separate domestic case, Fineday was convicted of violating a no-contact order—his third offense within 10 years. He was sentenced to:
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27 months in prison
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Credit for 107 days served
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Another $125 in fines and fees
As part of a plea agreement, two additional felony charges—domestic assault and domestic assault by strangulation—were dismissed.
APPEALS COURT RULING: SYMBOLIC WIN, SAME OUTCOME
Fineday appealed his convictions, claiming the admission of body-camera footage and a redundant domestic assault charge affected his rights.
On December 16, 2024, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled:
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Admitting the video didn’t violate substantial rights
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But the domestic assault conviction was a lesser-included offense of the strangulation charge
As a result, the warrant of commitment was amended to reflect that Fineday was not separately convicted on the third felony count. However, since no sentence had been attached to that charge, his prison term remains unchanged.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News
Did you know?
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In Minnesota, domestic assault by strangulation is a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
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Zip tie restraint during an assault elevates the severity of false imprisonment charges.
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No-contact order violations become felonies when committed within 10 years of multiple prior offenses.
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The Minnesota Court of Appeals often reverses charges without altering sentencing if a lesser-included offense overlaps.
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Warrants of commitment are legal documents that summarize sentencing and can be amended without changing time served.