While the number of cases charged has remained about the same, 2019 saw increased incidents where more serious factors were involved, according to Mower County Attorney Kristen Nelsen.

She informed the Mower County Board of this issue at Tuesday’s meeting.

Of those cases, 94 had a drug charge as the main offense. In addition, there were 61 cases where a drug charge was with a DWI charge.

“Usually they pull them over for DWI and they find drugs on them,” Nelsen said.

She said she appreciates the work Assistant County Attorney Megan Burroughs has done with this caseload and her other responsibilities, including property crimes and appeals.

“Megan has gone above and beyond this year in carrying that caseload,” Nelsen said.

There have also been 15 cases that involve criminal sexual conduct, six involving stalking, four attempted murders, five dealing with criminal vehicular operation or homicide, six cases of counterfeit money and 14 where felons were alleged to be in possession of firearms.

All in all, there were 445 cases prosecuted by the office.

Some of the ways in which the cases were more intense than before are shown in a couple cases where not only did individuals have drugs, but also firearms, Nelsen said. In other cases, robberies were becoming aggravated robberies.

“We are seeing an increased number in more serious cases I would say,” Nelsen said. “Nothing is simple anymore.”

The Attorney’s Office also had 21 child protection cases.

None of the numbers include tickets as those are citations and not in the charging system for the County Attorney’s Office, Nelsen said.

She said everyone in the office has been working hard and she thanked the Board for hiring a seventh lawyer.

During the presentation, Nelsen addressed a case where attorneys made a plea deal with an individual charged with criminal sexual conduct after two mistrials.

Nelsen said members of the community criticized that the individual only received probation.

The decision had been made as it ensured the individual was convicted without having to make the victim testify in court for a third time, she said.

“You don’t ask a juvenile to do a third trial. You don’t ask them to get up there a third time with no guarantee of a result,” Nelsen said. “We didn’t take that lightly.”

Commissioner Jerry Reinartz said if people have complaints about how long people are punished, they should also look at Minnesota laws.

“Maybe our laws are a little too lenient. You guys have to follow the laws,” he said.

Prosecutors in Minnesota follow sentencing guidelines set by a commission composed of the Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner, law enforcement representatives, judges, attorneys and members of the public.