Thief River Falls, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A Thief River Falls man, Shawn Duane Rud, 44, was sentenced on Monday, May 20, in Pennington County District Court for attempting to rob Hugo’s. He was also sentenced for felony check forgery exceeding $2,500 and attempted felony theft by swindle in two separate cases.
Sentences and Conditions
- Check Forgery: Rud received a 12-month and one-day prison sentence, stayed for five years, with credit for 102 days served. The felony charge of offering a forged check over $2,500 was dismissed.
- Attempted Theft by Swindle: Rud was sentenced to 12 months in prison, stayed for five years, with credit for 100 days served.
- Attempted Aggravated Robbery: Rud was sentenced to 16.5 months in prison, stayed for five years, with credit for 85 days served. A gross misdemeanor charge of an ineligible person possessing ammunition was dismissed.
All sentences are to be served concurrently. Rud was ordered to serve supervised probation for five years, have no contact with any victims, complete a mental health evaluation, and follow his mental health providers’ recommendations. Additionally, he is prohibited from using or possessing firearms, ammunition, or explosives and must provide a DNA sample. The state has 30 days to file a certificate of restitution, with the defense having 30 days to object. Other monetary conditions apply.
Background of Cases
Check Forgery
The check forgery case stemmed from a July 19 report by Rud’s neighbor, who discovered his Northern State Bank debit card had been declined despite sufficient funds. Police linked Rud to the crime through signed checks and video surveillance. The checks totaled over $4,000.
Attempted Theft by Swindle
This charge stemmed from a September 12 report where Rud attempted to obtain $8,998.53 belonging to LifeCare Pregnancy Center. Rud had called Elevate Life, pretending the check was for him, and tried to cash it via Payday Express in Grand Forks, N.D. Evidence was found at Rud’s home linking him to the crime.
Attempted Aggravated Robbery
On December 30, Rud attempted to rob Hugo’s by handing a cashier a note demanding money and threatening to detonate a bomb. Surveillance footage and evidence found at Rud’s home linked him to the crime.
Rehabilitation Efforts
Before sentencing, Rud stated he completed inpatient treatment at Douglas Place and is undergoing intensive outpatient treatment at RiverView Recovery and therapy at Sanford Behavioral Health. He expressed a desire to get his life back on track, stating these incidents do not reflect who he is or how he was raised.
Judge’s Comments
Judge Tamara Yon acknowledged the severity of Rud’s charges and noted that it was good he was receiving help.