A Minnesota state senator was convicted of burglary after she was caught breaking into the home of her estranged stepmother.
Democratic lawmaker Nicole Mitchell, 51, was found guilty of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools in court on Friday.
Mitchell was caught in the act while dressed in all black while at her stepmother’s home in the northwestern Minnesota city of Detroit Lakes in April of last year.
She told police that she went there to search for her father’s ashes and other mementos, but tried to back away from that story on the witness stand.
Footage of her arrest, shown earlier this week, showed her telling police, ‘Clearly, I’m not good at this,’ and ‘I know I did something bad.’
The former broadcast meteorologist and now-retired Air National Guard officer was convicted of one count of first-degree burglary of an occupied dwelling, a felony that carries a mandatory minimum of six months in jail if there’s an intent to steal.
Mitchell’s father Roderick died in 2023 at the age of 72. He had been married to Mitchell’s stepmother, Carol Mitchell, for nearly 40 years.
She testified on Thursday that, despite what she told the cops, she didn’t intend to take anything.
Mitchell was caught in the act dressed in all black while at her stepmother’s home in the northwestern Minnesota city of Detroit Lakes in April of last year
Mitchell testified on Thursday that, despite what she told the cops, she didn’t intend to take anything, she is seen here in court on Friday
She testified her stepmother was afraid of being put in a nursing home. Mitchell said she thought her stepmom would be less upset to hear she wanted some of her father’s items than to have her competency questioned.
Mitchell said she had become increasingly concerned about her stepmother’s worsening memory problems and paranoia, and wanted to check on her well-being.
She was also convicted on a count of possessing burglary tools, a lesser felony without a mandatory minimum.
The prosecution, led by Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald urged jurors Friday to focus on ‘the many lies of Nicole Mitchell’.
He told the jury to evaluate her testimony with reason and common sense. And he urged them to review the video showing what she told police after her arrest.
He said: ‘I submit to you she was telling the truth on April 22nd, 2024. And if you believe that she was telling the truth to the officers, then you know she had the intent to steal. She told you. She told the officers.’
Defense attorney Bruce Ringstrom Jr. told the jury that Mitchell did not steal anything and did not intend to.
He conceded that she used poor judgment. He said everybody has told ‘white lies,’ and that Mitchell’s goal was to avoid aggravating her stepmother´s distrust even further.
Police bodycam footage of a Minnesota senator Nicole Mitchell (pictured) allegedly burglarizing her stepmother’s home was played in court this week
‘We all know the difference between a white lie and a meaningful, damaging one,’ Ringstrom said.
‘The problem is that this happened in the context of something that was a terrible mess, a mess that Nicole made. But it was a mess.’
Police entered the home of her stepmother after she made a 911 call reporting, ‘Somebody’s broken into my house.’
Upon arrival at the house, a seemingly terrified Carol directed them to the location of the intruder in the basement – where her stepdaughter was then discovered and handcuffed.
Following Mitchell’s arrest upon discovery, the senator called out to her stepmom, ‘It’s Nicole. I was just trying to get some of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore.’
When the police officer asked Carol how she knew the intruder, she replied, ‘She’s my stepdaughter. She’s also a Minnesota senator.’
Officers reportedly found a crowbar and a backpack containing two laptops on the scene.
Mitchell listens to her attorney Bruce Ringstrom Jr.’s closing arguments during the fifth day of her felony burglary trial on Friday
Police entered the home of her stepmother, seen here after she made a 911 call reporting, ‘Somebody’s broken into my house’
Mitchell’s father died without a will and a probate court awarded Carol 100 percent of his estate.
This decision led to a familial dispute over the finances, with Carol accusing Mitchell of ‘trying to get money.’
In her testimony, Carol said she felt ‘extremely violated’ when her home was broken into. ‘It was frightening,’ she said. ‘I didn’t dare to stay there. I moved out.’
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy was quick to issue a statement saying that Mitchell has told colleagues that she planned to resign if convicted.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson reiterated the GOP’s long-standing demand for immediate resignation or face expulsion.
Gov. Tim Walz’s office said he expects her to resign. But one of Mitchell’s attorneys, Dane DeKrey, said in text messages to the Associated Press that he didn’t know if she would heed the calls. He said they’re exploring their options for an appeal.
If she resigns, the governor would schedule a special election. His office said it would provide more information soon.
Mitchell’s district mostly votes Democratic. The Harris-Walz ticket carried it with 61% of the vote last year.