Little Falls man can’t be charged again because of double jeopardy
Published 10:15 am Thursday, April 26, 2012
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Criminal sexual conduct charges won’t be refiled against a Little Falls man. The state Supreme Court says protections against double jeopardy prevent Stearns County prosecutors from recharging 33-year-old Michael Sahr.
A district court judge earlier dismissed the charge against Sahr after a defense attorney pointed out an error in the statute cited in the complaint. Stearns County appealed. Prosecutors argued the dismissal was equivalent to a mistrial and that Sahr could be recharged. The appeals court agreed. Sahr appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court. And the high court reversed the appeals court ruling.
The St. Cloud Times (http://on.sctimes.com/IdPDTw ) says Sahr has previously been convicted of criminal sexual conduct in Morrison and Mille Lacs counties.