Having negotiated plea agreements in a criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault, and terroristic threats case, Susan Ann Thompson, 40, and Kevin Robert Thompson, 52, of Grand Marais entered guilty pleas before Judge Kenneth Sandvik on Tuesday, May 11, 2010.
Susan Ann Thompson, 40, appeared first, represented by attorney Christopher Stocke who said that his client had filed a defense of “duress.” He read statements detailing the actions on May 19, 2009 to which Thompson was pleading guilty. Stocke asked her if she had admitted to her husband that she had had an intimate relationship with the victim; whether he encouraged her to “get” the man to come to their house; whether she knew her husband was “really going to scare him;” and whether he did indeed hold the man against his will. Susan Thompson replied yes to each question.
Stocke continued, “There was sexual contact. Did the victim say he did not want that sexual contact?” Thompson replied yes.
County Attorney Tim Scannell then asked clarifying questions. He asked if the man was held at her home without his consent and whether he was confined at her home “for the purpose of terrorizing him.” Thompson replied yes.
Finally, Scannell asked whether the victim would have had fear of great bodily harm to her or to himself when the sexual contact occurred. Thompson again replied affirmatively.
Scannell explained the settlement that had been agreed upon. The county amended Susan Thompson’s 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct charge to 4th degree criminal sexual conduct with coercion, for which Susan Thompson could serve 7½ years confinement. Commitment to the commissioner of corrections was stayed and instead of going to prison, Susan Thompson will be subject to electronic monitoring for two years. Thompson will be placed on probation for 10 years; will be required to pay $10,000 restitution to the victim; will be fined $10,000; must relinquish all weapons in the home, and must undergo a sexual offender evaluation and follow all reasonable recommendations. The charges of kidnapping and false imprisonment each carry potential penalties of 21 months imprisonment, but will also be stayed under conditions of probation.
Judge Sandvik accepted the settlement, however he added an additional condition, that a guardian ad litem be appointed for the Thompsons’ middle school-aged child. Sandvik said the guardian would have “broad accessibility to that child and would have authority to order CHIPS [Child Protective Services] for protection or custody of the child.”
Stocke said his client was willing to agree to the court-ordered guardian ad litem, but added that Mrs. Thompson was not waiving her right to protest a CHIPS action should it occur. He also requested that the electronic home monitoring be reviewed after one year, with the possibility that a second year of monitoring not be required. Scannell agreed to a one-year review, but added, “We will not necessarily agree that one year is enough.”
Kevin Thompson then appeared with his attorney, Richard Holmstrom, and he was also asked by his attorney to confirm that he understood what his guilty plea encompassed. Thompson was asked if he convinced his wife to have the victim come to their house; if he confronted, struggled with, and subdued the victim; and if he made the man stay in the basement of the home for 6 to 8 hours. Thompson answered yes and he was asked, “You kept him to terrorize him?” Thompson replied yes.
Holmstrom asked Thompson if he had a firearm tucked into the belt of his pants during the time the victim was restrained. Again Thompson said yes. Asked if, during the 6-8 hours he was held, the victim was threatened physically and coerced to have sexual contact with Susan Thompson—the answer was again yes. And finally, asked if he was entering a plea of guilty to all the charges, Kevin Thompson said yes.
Holmstrom said his client was willing to plead guilty to the modified complaint of 2nd degree aiding and abetting 4th degree sexual assault; kidnapping; assault in 2nd degree; false imprisonment, and terroristic threats. Kevin Thompson also could be subject to 7½ years of confinement, however that was stayed under the condition that Thompson serve two years at Northeast Regional Corrections Center and successfully complete sex offender treatment. The time at NRCC must be followed by one year local jail time, subject to sentence-to-serve, Huber Law, or electronic monitoring. He must also pay the victim $10,000 in restitution and a fine of $20,000; must complete sexual offender evaluation and follow all reasonable requirements; must relinquish all firearms and must register as a sex offender. He will also be on probation for 10 years.
Judge Sandvik noted that the court had added the additional condition regarding the appointment of a guardian ad litem. Other conditions added were the requirement that Kevin Thompson not make an appearance at the school without approval of probation; must not participate in the volunteer fire department and may not travel out-of-state.
The victim declined the offer to make a statement but has the right to do so at the July 7, 2010 sentencing hearing.
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