Becker County, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A Becker County jury has found Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell guilty on two felony counts stemming from an April 22, 2024, incident in which she was arrested after breaking into her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes.
Mitchell, a Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) senator from Woodbury, was convicted of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools after a tense, closely watched trial that stretched over several days. The jury deliberated and returned a guilty verdict, concluding she entered the home with the intent to commit a crime—a key element of the burglary charge.
Mitchell was found at the scene wearing dark clothing and carrying a pry bar, flashlight concealed in a sock, and other tools. When confronted by law enforcement, she reportedly stated, “I know I did something bad.”
Prosecutors argued that Mitchell’s actions were not a misunderstanding, but a deliberate effort to take back personal items related to a family dispute—particularly over the ashes of her late father, Rod Mitchell. Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald said Mitchell’s words and the tools she brought showed clear premeditation and intent.
Defense attorney Bruce Ringstrom Jr. countered that Mitchell entered the house out of concern for her stepmother, Carol Mitchell, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He characterized Mitchell’s statements as panicked “white lies” made to calm a tense situation and argued there was no intent to steal anything.
During the trial, the jury heard from both Nicole and Carol Mitchell, law enforcement officers, and family members. Carol’s testimony included inconsistencies attributed to her cognitive decline. The defense highlighted these memory lapses and alleged investigative failures, including law enforcement not preserving all physical evidence.
The trial’s outcome carries serious consequences. The felony burglary conviction alone carries a mandatory minimum sentence of six months in jail or a county workhouse, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine. The burglary tools charge could result in up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Mitchell’s conviction also threatens to upset the balance in the narrowly controlled Minnesota Senate, where Democrats currently hold a one-seat majority. She had already been barred from committee work and party caucus meetings during the trial. Senate Republicans have repeatedly called for her resignation, and with this verdict, political pressure is expected to intensify.
This is a developing story. Stay with TRF News for updates.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.