Sex offender pleads guilty
A Level-3 sex offender pled guilty in Faribault County District Court on Monday, for failure to check in with local authorities.
In a plea agreement, Ronald John Madsen, 50, who has been in the Faribault County Jail since last summer, was released.
Both Judge Douglas Richards and County Attorney Brian Roverud called it an ‘unusual’ plea arrangement.
Madsen could have been sentenced to serve time in stateprison, but that was stayed. Instead he agreed to time served and given credit for the 189 days he has spent in the county jail. Roverud called this a downward disposition from state guidelines,
However, Madsen was also given an additional 12 months onto his previously imposed potential prison time, if he violates any of the provisions of his release. Roverud said this upward durational departure is also unusual.
Madsen moved to Faribault County on June 18 and had reported in with Faribault County authorities as a homeless Level-3 sex offender, according to court documents. He was reported to have been living in Woods Lake Park near Elmore at the time.
Because he listed no permanent address, Madsen was required to check in with the sheriff’s office every seven days. After he failed to do so by June 25, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He had reported in to authorities in Hennepin County on June 26, one day late, Roverud said during the plea hearing.
Madsen was released on Monday on his own recognizance, after promising he would show up at the sentencing hearing.
As part of the plea agreement, he gave up many of his rights, including the right to a jury trial and right to appeal the decision.
He answered Judge Richards question concerning his plan for residency by saying he would be moving to a residence on North North Street in Fairmont.