In each Minnesota County, a County Attorney is elected to handle numerous criminal and civil responsibilities. The Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office employs two Assistant County Attorney’s who assist in carrying out those duties and two support staff personnel. The County Attorney is the chief prosecutor for all level of offenses that occur within proper jurisdiction of Mahnomen County’s sixteen townships and the Cities of Beaulieu, Bejou, Mahnomen, Naytahwaush and Waubun.

The major responsibility of the Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office is to decide whether or not to charge an individual with a crime. This decision is based upon the investigation of Law Enforcement Agencies. The prosecutors draft criminal complaints and prepare cases for hearings and trials. The prosecution of a crime includes interviewing and preparing witnesses and may involve presentation of the case to a Grand Jury.

OUR Mission: “To provide legal services for Mahnomen County and its residents in a timely and cost-effective manner.”

CRIMINAL DIVISION

The Criminal Division works closely with the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office, the White Earth Tribal Police Department, the Mahnomen County Court Administrator’s Office and the Judges of the Ninth Judicial District.

FELONIES are the most serious crimes carrying a penalty of one year to life in jail. The Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office prosecutes all felony level offenses that occur in Mahnomen County including crimes occurring within the City of Mahnomen.

GROSS MISDEMEANORS carry a penalty of up to one year in jail. The Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office prosecutes all gross misdemeanor level offenses that occur within the jurisdiction of Mahnomen County. The gross misdemeanor level offenses, that are alcohol and traffic related, occurring within the City of Mahnomen are handled by a prosecutor employed by the city.

MISDEMEANORS carry a penalty of up to ninety days in jail. The Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office prosecutes all misdemeanor level offenses that occur within the jurisdiction of Mahnomen County. The misdemeanor level offenses occurring within the City of Mahnomen are handled by a prosecutor employed by the city.

COUNTY ATTORNEY

Darlene Rivera

 

ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY

Brian McDonald

Kathleen J. Schur

 

SUPPORT STAFF

Heather Simonson

Mary Bongat-Libby 

 

OFFICE LOCATION

Mahnomen County Courthouse (Fifth Floor)

311 North Main Street

Post Office Box 439

Mahnomen, Minnesota 56557

 

CONTACT US

Phone: (218) 935-2378  or (218) 935-9221

Fax: (218) 935-5540

 

BUSINESS HOURS

Monday through Friday

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Closed on Observed Holidays

 

FORMS

• Affidavit for Restitution

• Victim Impact Statement

• Notice and Demand for Payment of a Dishonored Check

 

LINKS

• Minnesota Attorney General’s Office

• Court Calendar

• Mahnomen District Court

• Minnesota’s 9th District

JUVENILE DIVISION

The Juvenile Division works closely with the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office, the White Earth Tribal Police Department, the Mahnomen County Court Administrator’s Office, the Judges of the Ninth Judicial District and Mahnomen County Human Services.

JUVENILES include all misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor and felony level offenses that occur in Mahnomen County by children under the age of eighteen. The Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office prosecutes all juvenile matters that occur within Mahnomen County. For more serious juvenile offenses, the prosecutor may ask the court to certify a juvenile as an adult. Upon conviction, a juvenile, that has been certified as an adult, may receive all potential adult sanctions including jail time.

Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) petitions are initiated by Mahnomen County Human Services and filed by the Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office to protect abused or neglected children in the county. The Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office works with Mahnomen Public Schools to initiate Child in Need of Protection or Services Truancy Petitions to promote regular school attendance.

Civil DIVISION

The Civil Division works closely with the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office, the White Earth Tribal Police Department, the Mahnomen County Court Administrator’s Office, the Judges of the Ninth Judicial District, Mahnomen County Human Services, the Mahnomen County Board of Commissioners and Mahnomen County Governmental Departments.

CIVIL ADVICE AND LITIGATION is the responsibility of the Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office.  The County Attorney serves as chief legal counsel for the Mahnomen County Board of Commissioners, the various departments established and maintained by the board and to such committees of the board as appropriate. The Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office is not authorized to provide Civil Legal Advice to private citizens. The Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office can only represent Mahnomen County and perform duties authorized by statutes.

FORFEITURES are prosecuted by the Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office when personal property is used in connection with criminal activity.

COMMITMENTS are initiated by Mahnomen County Human Services. A petition is filed by the Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office. This involuntary process is used when treatment is necessary for individuals who are mentally ill and chemically dependent.

GUARDIANSHIPS are initiated by Mahnomen County Human Services. A petition is filed by the Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office to protect the health and safety of vulnerable adults within Mahnomen County when they are in need of assistance.

CHILD SUPPORT actions are initiated by Mahnomen County Child Support Services.  An action is brought by the Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office to obtain or enforce child support obligations, when a family is receiving public assistance. The Mahnomen County Attorney Office assists with establishing the paternity of a child, in order to obtain reimbursement for assistance and other costs to the taxpayers.

ZONING AND SANITATION actions are prosecuted by the Mahnomen County Attorney’s Office to protect the environment through enforcement of Mahnomen County’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Ordinances.