Minn. State Senator Found Guilty of Breaking Into Her Stepmother’s House By Madison E. Goldberg

Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell was found guilty of felony first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools for breaking into her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes, Minn., by a Becker County jury on Friday, July 18.

Mitchell, 50, who is from Woodbury, Minn., allegedly broke into the home on April 22, 2024, dressed in black and equipped with a flashlight covered with a sock, per local news outlet MPR News. The jury of nine men and three women deliberated for about three hours after getting the case at 12:38 p.m. local time on July 18.

The state senator claimed that she entered her stepmother’s house without permission for a welfare check on Carol Mitchell, who allegedly has Alzheimer’s disease. This was contrary to what she told police officers who arrested her after Carol called 911 to report an intruder at the time, the outlet reports.

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Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald brought up the police body cam footage during his closing arguments. He began by repeating a statement Mitchell made while in police custody: “I know I did something bad.”

McDonald added, “Now she wants to lie about it.” He continued, “This is convenient testimony by an admitted liar. Ladies and gentlemen, do not buy it.”

The Becker County attorney concluded that he was “pleased for Carol Mitchell, for some justice.” Mitchell’s Defense attorney Dane DeKrey said his team said there are “arguments for mercy” in Nicole Mitchell’s sentencing.

The judge overseeing the trial said Mitchell could remain free pending sentencing. A date for sentencing has not yet been set, per CBS News.

She faces a mandatory minimum of 180 days in jail, the outlet reports.

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Democratic Minn. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said Mitchell “has told colleagues that she intended to resign if found guilty of this crime, and I expect her to follow through on that pledge.” 

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson said the verdict confirms Nicole Mitchell’s actions “failed to meet the level of ethical behavior we expect from elected officials, and her continued participation in the Minnesota Senate leaves the body with a stain on its record for every time her vote was the deciding vote in passing legislation.”