Hubbard County court news – Laporte man charged with failure to register as predatory offender (2024)

The following information contains felony charges from complaints filed in Hubbard County 9th District Court. Defendants are innocent until proven guilty.

Joseph M. Branville, 52, of Laporte, is charged with two felony counts: failure to register as a predatory offender and intentionally providing false information.

According to the statement of probable cause, Branville was convicted of several felony offenses in Colorado, including child abuse, sexual assault and sexual abuse involving a minor.

As a resident of Minnesota and while on parole for the Colorado offenses, Branville is supervised by the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC).

On April 22, a DOC agent received notification from Branville’s cellular monitoring service that Branville’s cell phone had not transmitted any data for the previous three days. The agent spoke to a woman at Branville’s registered address, who said he often stays with “Bobby and Barb” in Bemidji.

On April 25, the agent met with Branville, who said he didn’t have contact information for “Bobby and Barb.” Branville drew a map, but the agent found the map was inaccurate. Branville then admitted to lying about the existence of “Bobby and Barb.” The agent learned Branville was staying with Roger L. Johnson, 72, in Bemidji. Johnson told the agent that Branville stayed at his place about 50 times over the past two years. Johnson also communicated with Branville through a cell number that wasn’t registered with the DOC.

On April 30, the agent obtained a search warrant for cell phone location data for the unregistered phone.

On May 13, law enforcement arrested Branville after leaving his Bemidji workplace. Branville admitted he had an unregistered cell phone. He was taken to Hubbard County Jail.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for June 24.

Easton C. Vensel Hein, 18, of Park Rapids, is charged with two felony counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to the statement of probable cause, the Park Rapids Police spoke with the alleged victim at 2:08 p.m. on May 31. She told police Vensel Hein had pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her. A witness told police she observed a male come out of an apartment with a black shotgun, point it at a woman in a van and shout that he would shoot her at about 1 p.m.

Another witness also reported the incident to the apartment’s property manager. Three females in the van gave consistent statements about the incident.

Vensel Hein admitted to pointing the gun, saying he was protecting his son and people had threatened him online.

An initial appearance is scheduled for June 17.

Anthony Giniwmegwun Norcross, 25, of Ponsford, is charged with felony possession of any type of firearm/ammunition.

According to the statement of probable cause, law enforcement were dispatched to a Park Rapids residence following a report of two unwanted males on the property. When officers arrived, the males were no longer there. After patrolling the area, the men were located and arrested. One had an active warrant for his arrest. A 22-caliber firearm was found on the other male, identified as Norcross.

Norcross was previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in November 2019 in North Dakota and a felony count of receiving stolen property in Hubbard County.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for June 24.

Cole A. Pigeon, 24, of Bayport, Minn., is charged with felony, first-degree damage to property and felony, fourth-degree assault of a peace officer.

According to the statement of probable cause, at approximately 4:14 p.m. on May 9, the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office went to Pine Manors in Nevis. Pigeon was reportedly “smashing mirrors on vehicles and throwing objects at staff members.” Pigeon told the deputy he was upset and broke things, which was witnessed by numerous people. Pigeon had been admitted to the facility earlier that day.

While being handcuffed, Pigeon spit into the deputy’s face and later spit on the partition in the squad car.

A review of Pigeon’s criminal history reveals convictions for damage to property, assault and threats of violence in Nov. 22; assault in Feb. 2021, and burglary and threats of violence in March 2020.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for June 17.

Devin C. Jackson, 22, of Walker, is charged with felony, first-degree DWI.

According to the statement of probable cause, at about 4:40 p.m. on April 29, a Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a vehicle eastbound on U.S. Hwy. 2 driving without headlights while it was raining. The deputy stopped the vehicle and the driver, identified as Jackson, jumped from the front seat to the back seat. Jackson was detained in the squad car. A male passenger told the deputy that Jackson asked him to get into the driver’s seat. Jackson denied driving.

At the Hubbard County Jail, Jackson had a blood alcohol concentration test result of 0.17.

A review of Jackson’s criminal history reveals DWI convictions in July 2023 and June 2022, along with drive-by shooting in June 2022.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for June 10.

Lisa J. Hamre, 35, of Cass Lake, is charged with felony, fourth-degree assault of a correctional employee and gross misdemeanor second-degree DWI/refusal to submit to testing.

According to the statement of probable cause, at approximately 10:12 p.m. on May 7, a Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a Ford Taurus traveling westbound on U.S. Hwy. 2 without taillights. Hamre was identified as the driver. The deputy observed possible signs of intoxication. According to the report, Hamre was partially cooperative with field sobriety testing and was placed under arrest. A preliminary breath test had a 0.122 alcohol concentration. Hamre was brought to Beltrami County Law Enforcement Center, where she refused to provide a breath test. Hamre was transported to Hubbard County Jail. During booking, Hamre bit and scratched a correctional officer’s wrist.

A review of Hamre’s criminal history reveals a revoked driving license in 2019 in North Dakota. Pending cases in Hubbard and Cass counties include disorderly conduct, fleeing a peace officer and fifth-degree misdemeanor assault.

A review hearing is scheduled for July 23.

Christopher B. Matthews, 39, of St. Paul, is charged with two felony counts of DWI, gross misdemeanor driving after cancellation as inimical to public safety and gross misdemeanor violation of restricted license.

According to the statement of probable cause, at about 4:14 p.m. on April 28, a Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled over a vehicle, driven by Matthews, on U.S. Hwy. 71 and Beltrami Line Road for “dark window tint on the driver’s side windows.” According to the report, the deputy observed glossy, bloodshot eyes and smelled the odor of alcohol. Matthew admitted he didn’t have a valid license and he consumed alcohol in the early morning hours. The deputy learned Matthews’ driving privileges were canceled. A preliminary breath test had a result of 0.079.

A review of Matthews’ criminal history reveals DWI convictions in Sept. 2009, July 2013, May 2016, Feb. 2017 and drug possession convictions in June 2020 and June 2022.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16.