Saturday, January 19, 2013
John Stephen Woodward, one-time neighbor of James Backstrom, attempted murder-for-hire.
John Stephen Woodward, convicted in December of conspiracy to murder Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom, was sentenced Friday to 16 years in prison. Woodward, who turned 50 today, was originally sent to jail in 2007 after an investigation by Backstrom that led to his conviction for felony drug crimes, including selling methamphetamine. According to a report in the Star-Tribune, he will have to serve at least two-thirds of his 16-year sentence before he is eligible for release. As reported by Patch in December, Woodward was charged by the Rice County Attorney’s Office after Minnesota Correction Facility—Faribault officials uncovered the plot to kill Backstrom. Woodward had been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit …
Friday, December 7, 2012
John Stephen Woodward was charged by the Rice County Attorney’s Office after Minnesota Correction Facility—Faribault officials uncovered a plot by Woodward to murder Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.
A Rice County jury of 12 on Friday found John Stephen Woodward guilty of conspiracy to commit premeditated first-degree murder of Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. Woodward was charged by the Rice County Attorney’s Office after Minnesota Correction Facility—Faribault officials uncovered the plot to kill Backstrom. Woodward had been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit premeditated first-degree murder: one charge for Backstrom and the other for Dakota County Judge Rex Stacey. Rice County Judge Thomas Neuville dismissed the count regarding Stacey earlier this week because of lack of evidence. Woodward was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison on the drug charge, in which he sold methamphetamine from his Inver …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
While in the Minnesota Correctional Facility—Faribault, John Stephen Woodward allegedly masterminded a plot to murder Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.
A Rice County jury is expected to begin considering the case today against an Inver Grove Heights man charged with plotting to murder Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom in 2010. John Stephen Woodward, 49, was originally charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit premeditated first-degree murder. Authorities say he made arrangements with another inmate at the state prison in Faribault to murder not just Backstrom, but Dakota County District Judge Rex Stacey, who presided over Woodward’s trial on felony drug charges. Woodward is also on trial on a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault resulting in great bodily harm. Prosecutors say he intended to have someone use a baseball bat to break the arms and legs of a woman who…
Sunday, October 28, 2012
In other crime news from across the South Metro region, an Apple Valley man is charged with strangling a woman, and a Burnsville man is convicted of trafficking underage girls.
The following articles first appeared on Patch sites throughout the South Metro region during the past week. To read the full articles, click on the headline links. Dad Allegedly Abused 5-Year-Old Daughter, Filmed the Abuse for Pornography Dakota County Attorney: Mom knew of abuse and failed to stop it. Apple Valley Man Charged with Strangling, Threatening Woman Police say Dwayne Washington choked the victim, threatened to kill her and kept a gun in the closet which had its serial number illegally scratched off. Apple Valley Police Arrest Habitual Check Forger, Drug User Police say Rachael Marie Morey used a forged check to buy gift cards at an Apple Valley store, and that she had methamphetamine and stolen credit cards and Social Security…
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Tylar James Hokanson was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder in the 2009 death of his 17-month-old stepson.
The Minnesota Supreme Court announced Wednesday it has upheld the murder conviction of Tylar James Hokanson of Northfield. Hokanson, 26, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder in connection to the death of his 17-month-old stepson in 2009. He was sentenced to life in prison, but is eligible for parole in 30 years. In an opinion released Wednesday, the court says it upheld the conviction on six points, including that the Dakota County Attorney’s Office presented sufficient evidence, the jury’s instructions were fair and accurate and Hokanson was not denied effective counsel. According to the Pioneer Press, Hokanson’s counsel claimed other family members could have inflicted the injuries …
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Melissa Louise Ohmann, formerly Hokanson, received a stayed sentence of 48 months and was placed on probation for 10 years. As part of her sentence, she agreed to spend one year in jail.
A 21-year-old Northfield woman received a stayed sentence of 48 months and was placed on probation for 10 years in connection to the death of her 17-month-old son in 2009. Melissa Louise Ohmann, formerly Hokanson, pleaded to second-degree manslaughter-neglect of a child in March. Her son, Nicholas Arthur Miller, died on June 23, 2009. As part of her sentence, she agreed to spend one year in jail. Here is the text of a press release from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office announcing the sentencing: Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced that Melissa Louise Ohmann (formerly Hokanson), age 21 of Northfield, was sentenced today by Judge Erica MacDonald in connection with the death of her 17-month-old son Nicholas Arthur Miller who …
Saturday, July 21, 2012
The office of Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom issued the following statement late Friday afternoon.
Editor's note: Patch published an aggregated story on July 19 that suggested the St. Paul Crime Lab may not be compliant with best practices and that this noncompliance could have endangered the reliability of drug tests in criminal cases. Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom issued the following statement. ---- In response to the claims being made that the Dakota County Attorney’s Office had prior knowledge of the extent of the problems with the St. Paul Police Department Crime Laboratory, the following is the explanation of the events leading up to the hearings in eight consolidated drug cases in Dakota County conducted during the week of July 16, 2012: In February and March of 2012 the Dakota County Attorney’s Office received extensive…
Friday, March 9, 2012
Melissa Louise Ohmann on Friday pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter after she didn't seek medical treatment for her abused son.
A Northfield woman pleaded guilty on Friday to failing to contributing to the 2009 death of her 17-month-old son by neglecting to seek medical care for him. Melissa Louise Ohmann, formerly Hokanson, 21, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter (child neglect) in connection with the death of her son, Nicholas Arthur Miller, according to a news release from the Dakota County Attorney. Ohmann's ex-husband and Nicholas's stepfather, Tylar Hokanson, was convicted in November 2010 of first-degree murder and second-degree murder in connection with Nicholas's death. He is serving life in prison. A pre-sentencing investigation and psychological evaluation for Ohmann is set for June 12, the release says. Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom …
linda
9:36 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Look at his eyes - an evil man, you can see it! more ›