Northfield Man Sentenced to Probation, Treatment After 2011 Drug Arrest

A Northfield man pleaded guilty Wednesday to fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance in exchange for three years probation, chemical dependency treatment and no jail time.

Seth Nicholas Piekarski, 18, was sentenced for a Sept. 30 incident in which Northfield police found him in possession of 111 grams—or 3.9 ounces—of marijuana, a marijuana grinder and two glass pipes.

Rice County Attorney Paul Beaumaster also agreed to dismiss the possession of drug paraphernalia charge, saying Piekarski "should be commended for doing what he needs to do to relieve his dependency on marijuana." 

Piekarski enrolled himself in a 21-week chemical dependency treatment program following his arrest. 

Rice County District Court Judge Thomas Neuville sounded cautiously optimistic as he reminded Piekarski of the penalty of failure to comply with probation.   

"I too commend you and am expecting you to be fully compliant with the conditions of probation ... you are the kind of candidate we give this treatment to ... but if you violate probation, I'm expecting you not to but if you did, the first thing that would happen is that you'd be convicted of a felony."  

Neuville also sentenced Piekarski to a year in jail but stayed the imposition of that sentence provided the 18-year-old remains law abiding. 

Neuville also placed on Piekarski the following conditions: 

• Continue drug treatment and follow aftercare recommendations
• No use of alcohol or drugs for three years
• Submit to random chemical testings
• 24 hours community service
• Pay a $500 fine

The felony charge will be expunged from Piekarski's criminal record on Jan. 18, 2015, if he follows the conditions of his probation.