Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — Jay Ernst is being held in the Pennington County Jail after court records listed three charges, including two felonies and one gross misdemeanor.
According to the jail record, Ernst was taken into custody on February 5, 2026. The booking entry lists no bail or fine amount. The case is listed in District Court. No court date was shown in the information provided.
Charges Listed In Court Record
The jail entry shows three separate charges tied to Ernst. The first is mail theft. The statute listed is 609.529.2(5). The charge is marked as a felony.
The second charge is a third-degree drug offense. The entry cites statute 152.023.2(a)(1). It describes possession of 10 grams or more of a narcotic drug other than heroin or fentanyl. That charge is also marked as a felony.
The third charge is theft. The record cites statute 609.52.2(a)(1). It is described as taking, using, or transferring movable property without consent. That offense is listed as a gross misdemeanor.
The booking record also lists Ernst as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and 227 pounds. It describes his hair as brown and his eyes as blue.
What Happens Next
At this stage, the jail listing shows only the booking details and charge information. It does not include a court narrative. It also does not include allegations beyond the short charge descriptions.
Criminal charges are accusations. They are not convictions. A case must move through court before guilt or innocence is decided.
Readers can review the mail theft statute at Minnesota Statute 609.529. The drug statute can be found at Minnesota Statute 152.023. The theft statute is posted at Minnesota Statute 609.52.
Public case information may also appear through Minnesota Court Records Online as the case moves ahead.
TRF News will update this story if more court details are released.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.