Thief River Falls Inmate Charged in DANCO Texts

Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Thief River Falls man is charged after jail texts were reviewed, court papers say.

Jail texts lead to DANCO charges

Chad Michael Nelson, 45, is charged with two gross misdemeanor counts of Domestic Abuse No Contact Order (DANCO) violations.

He remains in jail in Pennington County, according to the complaint.

A judge issued the no-contact order on Jan. 26, the complaint said.

Nelson was served the order on Jan. 27, court documents said.

While in custody, Nelson was given a jail texting device, the complaint said.

Investigators said they reviewed messages sent from that device.

The complaint said Nelson began texting an unknown phone number on Feb. 2.

He wrote that he wanted to talk about the couple’s children.

He later saved the number under a child’s name, the complaint said.

But the replies did not sound like a child.

Court papers said the person texting back appeared to be the woman protected by the order.

The messages discussed the domestic assault case, their relationship, and their children, according to prosecutors.

On Feb. 10, investigators said Nelson sent sexually explicit texts to that same number.

On Feb. 9, the complaint said he contacted another person from jail.

Prosecutors said he asked that person to contact the woman for him.

He wanted her to ask for treatment instead of prison time.

He also wanted her to ask the court to drop the no-contact order.

Prior cases mentioned in the complaint

The complaint cited a January 2025 stay of adjudication in Pennington County.

It involved a protection order violation, court papers said.

The complaint did not say if the same woman was involved.

Documents also referenced a June 2023 felony conviction for possessing ammunition or a firearm.

The complaint linked that case to a crime of violence label.

Background on no-contact orders

A Domestic Abuse No Contact Order is issued in a criminal case.

It can ban calls, texts, and third party contact.

More information is posted by the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

The statute is listed at Minnesota Statutes, section 629.75.

What happens next

The charges are allegations and must be proven in court.

Public case records may be searched through Minnesota Court Records Online.

Local jail information is posted by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.