Caledonia Argus

Hokah man charged with terroristic threats, assault

Posted: 3/4/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

A dispute over a wrecked pick-up truck last Wednesday resulted in charges against a 50-year-old Hokah man.

Mitchell Sheehan was arraigned Friday in District Court on two charges of making terroristic threats and two counts of second-degree assault. Sheehanís arraignment was conducted by phone with Judge Dennis Weber of Wabasha. Sheehanís attorney, Daniel J. Moulton, was in the Wabasha courtroom with Judge Weber at the time of the arraignment.

According to the complaint filed in District Court, Jon Hanson of Caledonia, a former employee of Sheehanís, called the Houston County Sheriffís Office to request that an officer meet him at the Sheehan residence in rural Hokah. Hanson said that he was attempting to retrieve his 1978 Chevrolet pick-up which had recently been involved in an accident. Hanson told authorities that Sheehan, who had co-signed a loan for the vehicle, had had the truck towed to his residence and refused to return it to Hanson.

As Sgt. Randy Shefelbine was en route to the Sheehan home, 911 dispatch received a second call from Hanson who reported that the confrontation was escalating and would probably turn physical. He asked for officers to arrive as soon as possible.

As Shefelbine was requesting assistance, Hanson called dispatch from a home near the Sheehan residence to report that Sheehan had fired a 12 gauge shotgun twice, once in the air and once in his direction. The bullet struck the windshield of the pickup.

Also present at that time were Hansonís girlfriend and her two children. The children were sitting in a nearby car.

Responding to the scene were Houston County deputies, the Caledonia Police Department, the Houston Police Department and the Spring Grove Police Department. According to a release from the Houston County Sheriffís Department, a search conducted February 27 uncovered the weapon which was allegedly used in the incident and 450 grams of marijuana. Formal charges are pending.

Judge Weber set bail at $50,000, which Sheehan posted later in the day. The Judge also required that Sheehan turn over all firearms that he owns or that are in his possession , remain law-abiding, have no contact with Hanson or his family, and that he not damage a camper owned by Hanson which is at his residence.

Sheehan told the the judge that he has restraining orders against Hanson and three others. He said that Hanson threatened to kill him, and that he is afraid of him because he is a boxer.

Sheehan will enter a plea on March 14 at 9 a.m

Each charge of second degree assault carries a penalty of not more than seven years in prison and/or a fine of $14,000. The penalty for making terroristic threats is up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000.

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