Posted: 7/27/05
Gieser court appearance continued
The omnibus hearing for Craig Gieser which was set for last week has been continued.
Gieser, 48, Caledonia, was to have appeared in Third District Court on July 20, where he could have entered a plea to possessing and distributing child pornography.
ìSignificantly more time is going to be necessary for the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children task force to do the forensic examination [of his computers] because of their increasing workload,î Houston County Attorney Rick Jackson said in explaining the continuance on July 19.
Jackson estimated that the omnibus hearing would be held in December.
A Caledonia Elementary School music teacher for 26 years, Gieser was charged on May 3 with one count of dissemination of pornography involving a minor and two counts of possession of child pornography. The crimes carry a maximum sentence 17 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine; and 30,000 fine.
He has since resigned from his teaching job.
An undercover detective in New Hampshire, posing as a 14-year-old boy in an internet chat room, allegedly attracted the attention of Gieser. According to the police report, Gieser asked the ìboyî for pictures, and the detective sent pictures of himself as a 14-year- old. One was a school photo, and the others were of him in sports uniforms.
Gieser is free on $50,000 bond. Conditions of his release include no computer or internet usage, no contact with anyone under age 18, no going to places where there would be a congregation of people under age 18, including a library. If Gieser leaves Minnesota, he must sign a waiver of extradition.
Two new conditions have been added, Jackson said. Gieser will be allowed to travel to Virginia for a week in August, and he is allowed to go into Wisconsin for the purpose of seeking employment.
Burfield, Moen trials set
Trials for Travis Moen and Sara Burfield of Spring Grove have been set for October 7 at 9:30 a.m.
They are charged with owning a dog that killed domestic livestock.
The Houston County Sheriffís Office issued the petty misdemeanor citation to Moen on June 3. Sara Burfield was given a similar citation on April 21 for an incident in which two Rottweilers killed 11 sheep belonging to Burfieldís neighbor, Robert Finnesgard .
Moen and Burfield have both pled not guilty.
Spencer pleads guilty
Jessica Lee Spencer, 23, pled guilty in Third District Court on July 20 to falsely reporting a crime. A disorderly conduct charge against her was dropped.
Spencer had requested a court trial for that date after initially pleading not guilty.
The La Crosse, Wisconsin woman led local authorities on a wild goose chase after falsely reporting her own kidnapping on May 12. She made the calls from a rural Caledonia home where she was staying.
She was fined $200, $100 of which was stayed. She will also have to pay $70 in court fees and at least $115 in restitution. She was given 10 days in jail, eight of which were stayed.
Joe Cody, 54, La Crosse, Wisconsin, has also been charged in connection with the case.
Cody is charged with possession of marijuana, obstructing the legal process, and disorderly conduct. He appeared in court on June 28 for arraignment where he pled not guilty and requested a jury trial. It hadnít been set as of July 21.
Authorities believe that Cody was aware of what was going on and did not try to stop it or clarify with police what was happening.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com