REGIONAL BRIEFS: Man’s drinking triggers sentencing for 2010 death

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Credit: Forum News Service

Minnesota

Man’s drinking triggers sentencing for 2010 death

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. -- A Park Rapids man convicted of killing his friend in a drunken brawl two years ago was sent to prison for 110 months this week after violating terms of his earlier sentencing to stay away from alcohol.

Judge Paul Rasmussen said he was disappointed in Luis Candelaria, 49, when the judge imposed the stayed adjudication Tuesday in the 2010 death of Richard Hoskins.

Candelaria and Hoskins spent July 3, 2010, drinking and partying on a boat. They got into a heated argument driving home. Candelaria threw three quick punches in the yard of his Park Rapids residence. Hoskins, 41, died almost immediately.

In a plea deal suggested by Hoskins’ family, a charge of second degree murder was dismissed against Candelaria and he pleaded guilty to third degree assault. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail and a 15-year probationary period, during which he was ordered to stay away from alcohol consumption and be law-abiding.

Candelaria was arrested for drunken driving in Cass County, N.D., in September and was found intoxicated by in Park Rapids police in November.

(PRE)

Lake homeowners urged to check docks

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. – Authorities are asking lake home owners in Becker County to check their docks after an aluminum dock was reported stolen and sold for scrap metal.

Kathy Nguyen, an investigator with the Becker County Sheriff's Office, said this afternoon that only one tip of a dock theft came into her office, but investigators fear there could be similar thefts from lake homes.

“We know the people are missing docks, but they haven’t been reported yet,” Nguyen said.

She said lake home owners probably took their docks out of the water for the winter and have not checked on the property recently.

“We're just asking if you own a lake place check and see if your dock is still there and if it's not, give us a call,” Nguyen said.

Reports can be made to the Becker County Sheriff’s Office at (218) 847-2661 or the Detroit Lakes Police Department at (218) 847-4222.

(FF)

Hubbard courthouse renovation in works

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. -- The Hubbard County Board voted unanimously Tuesday to proceed on a $5.665 million courthouse renovation.

The board reasoned at a public hearing that bond rates were too low to pass up and competition in the construction industry would ensure lower prices for the renovation and addition.

There is a 30-day comment period. Construction on the 38-year-old building could start as soon as late summer.

The plan entails a 700 square foot cathedral addition, an open lobby on the south side of the existing building, which will be the main entrance.

It will allow for better courthouse and office security, which is one of the major motivators for the renovation work. The heating and cooling system in the current building is another.

North Dakota

Devils Lake man loses $50,000 in sweepstakes scam

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. -- Police say an elderly Devils Lake man lost approximately $50,000 in a sweepstakes scam.

The man, who is in his 80s, made several payments over the past few months to the phony company after being notified he had won a “U.S. Sweepstakes” prize of $48.5 million, according to Detective Sue Schwab of the Devils Lake Police Department.

However, in order to collect the prize, he was told he would have to pay various fees to collect the money.

“There is actually a legitimate company with that name, but this was not that company,” Schwab said, adding that while the scammers used the legitimate business’s name, it also gave a phony address.

(GFH)

Sexually assaulted horse recovering

DICKINSON, N.D. -- More than three weeks after a sexual assault that severely injured her, a 7-year-old mare is back at home in Glendive, Mont., and will most likely make a full recovery.

Meanwhile, a suspect in the crime has yet to be arrested, but officials say the investigation isn’t over yet.

As for the mare, there might be some issues with fertility, but she will be able to run and jump and play like before, her owner Gerald Reichert said.

“The veterinarian thought that she would heal up and that would be OK,” he said. “We don’t plan on breeding her. … Not that that makes a lot of difference for the crime.”

The investigation is ongoing, said Stark County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Dean Franchuk, adding that there is some information gathered about the type of vehicle the perpetrator might have been driving.

(DP)

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