Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Thief River Falls man has been charged in Pennington County District Court after authorities say he failed to update his registered address.
Michael Allen Powell, 47, is charged with felony predatory offender — knowingly fails to fulfill registration requirement, according to the complaint. He has been summoned to appear in court. The complaint was filed on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Why investigators went looking for Powell
The charge stems from a request from law enforcement in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, tied to an ongoing criminal sexual conduct investigation there, according to the complaint.
On Tuesday, Dec. 23, a police investigator and a sheriff’s investigator went to the address Powell had registered as his residence, the complaint says.
Registered address vs. where he was found
At the registered address at Riverside Terrace, investigators spoke with a man who lived there, the complaint says. The man allegedly told investigators that Powell, his nephew, had not lived in that apartment for several months.
The complaint says the man told investigators that Powell had moved into another apartment with a woman in August.
Investigators then went to that other apartment, where Powell answered the door, according to the complaint. When asked, Powell allegedly told investigators he had moved there a few weeks earlier.
Woman’s statement, complaint says
The woman allegedly told the sheriff’s investigator that Powell began staying with her in August after she had a medical procedure. She said he initially went back and forth between the two apartments.
She allegedly said Powell moved into her apartment shortly before Oct. 31. She said they were trying to add his name to her lease, according to the complaint.
Alleged admission
After speaking with the woman, the sheriff’s investigator spoke with Powell again, the complaint says. Powell allegedly admitted he violated his registration requirement.
Prior convictions listed in complaint
The complaint also lists prior convictions tied to registry requirements. It states Powell was convicted of a felony sex offender registry violation in May 2020 in St. Croix County, Wisconsin. It also lists failure to register as a sex offender in January 2005 in Ramsey County, North Dakota. It also lists felony predatory offender — failure to notify in April 2002 in Marshall County.
What happens next
Charges are not proof of guilt. The case will be decided in court.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) |
Minnesota Statutes (Revisor) |
Minnesota Department of Corrections
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.