Category Legal Developments

Evavold to be arraigned next week on new criminal charges

October 13, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold will be arraigned next week on three criminal counts of violating a Harassment Restraining Order granted by a court in Dakota County to protect David Rucki and his family from Evavold’s continued harassment.

Evavold is scheduled to appear at the Dakota County Western Service Center in Apple Valley on October 17, 2017, at 9:00 AM.

She has been charged with three misdemeanors and if convicted, Evavold could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine on each charge.

Evavold was sentenced on November 10, 2016 after being found guilty of six felony charges related to her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who were abducted by their mother near their home in Lakeville, Minnesota on April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

In July a judge in Dakota County found that “an immediate and present danger of harassment” by Evavold existed to warrant the granting of a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) requested by David Rucki and his daughter, Samantha Rucki, against Evavold.

The HRO requested by David Rucki and Samantha Rucki also protects Gianna Rucki and two other minor Rucki children from being harassed by Evavold. Continue reading →

Dede Evavold’s revenge against the Rucki family

October 11, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold is scheduled to be arraigned in Dakota County next week on new criminal charges filed against her related to her continued online harassment of the Rucki family.

On July 28, 2017, a judge in Dakota County signed a Harassment Restraining Order specifically stating “[Evavold] shall not name any member of the Rucki Family in any blog posting, social media posting, or internet posting” after determining “an immediate and present danger of harassment” by Evavold existed.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County on September 12, 2017, Evavold violated the Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) on August 2nd, August 3rd, and August 15th by posting names and photos of the Rucki family.

Evavold’s arraignment next week comes in the wake of two recent sentences in Minnesota, both for charges under Minnesota’s newly enacted “Revenge Porn” law. Continue reading →

Dede Evavold may face additional criminal charges

October 3, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold may face additional criminal charges for violating a Harassment Restraining Order granted by a court in Dakota County to protect David Rucki and his family from her continued harassment.

Evavold violated the Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) less than 36 hours after being warned by a judge at a court hearing in Dakota County that she could face additional criminal charges, including gross misdemeanor and felony charges if she continues to violate the HRO.

The HRO requested by David Rucki and Samantha Rucki also protects Gianna Rucki and two other minor Rucki children from being harassed by Evavold.

Since the HRO was granted, Evavold has repeatedly violated the conditions of the HRO with her continuous harassment and threatening behavior toward the Rucki family.

On September 12, 2017, Evavold was charged with three criminal counts of violating the HRO. Evavold is scheduled to be arraigned at the Dakota County Western Service Center in Apple Valley on October 17, 2017, at 9:00 AM.

If convicted, Evavold could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine on each charge. Continue reading →

Dede Evavold loses in court; HRO remains in effect

September 29, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

A Harassment Restraining Order requested by David Rucki and his daughter, Samantha Rucki, against Dede Evavold to prevent Evavold’s continued harassment of their family remains in effect after a court hearing was held this morning at the Dakota County Western Service Center in Apple Valley, Minnesota.

Evavold filed a motion to vacate the Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) granted after a court in Dakota County ruled in July that “an immediate and present danger of harassment” by Evavold existed to warrant the granting of an HRO.

But after Judge Philip Kanning learned in court this morning that Evavold had not served her motion to vacate the HRO on Lisa Elliott, the attorney for David Rucki and his daughter, Samantha Rucki, he postponed the hearing until after Evavold’s criminal trial for violating the HRO.

Elliott had also filed a motion to hold Evavold in contempt for repeatedly violating the HRO. Both motions will be heard at the same court hearing, which will be held in the next few months.

Evavold was visibly angry in the courtroom during today’s brief court hearing.

She replied with a gruff “OK” after Judge Kanning warned Evavold that the HRO remains in effect and that she could face additional criminal charges, including gross misdemeanor and felony charges if she continues to violate the HRO.

Continue reading →

Dede Evavold denies violating probation; court hearing set for November

September 28, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold denied she has violated the conditions of her probation which prohibited her from making any reference to Rucki family in her use of social media during a probation violation hearing today at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings, Minnesota.

Today’s hearing was scheduled after Dakota County Community Corrections filed a Probation Violation Report with Dakota County District Court last month alleging Evavold had made repeated references to the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Despite authoring numerous posts where she directly named members of the Rucki family, and also sharing many of the posts on her personal social media accounts, Evavold denied in court today that she violated the conditions of her probation.

Judge Karen Asphaug scheduled an evidentiary hearing for November 2, 2017, at 1:30 PM, where a determination will be made if Evavold has violated the conditions of her probation.

As previously reported by Missing in Minnesota, Evavold has repeatedly violated the explicit terms of her probation by continuing to reference the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Evavold was sentenced on November 10, 2016 after being found guilty of six felony charges related to her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who were abducted by their mother near their home in Lakeville, Minnesota on April 19, 2013 during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

Continue reading →

Federal civil rights lawsuit filed by MacDonald dismissed

September 15, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Legal Developments, Michelle MacDonald

A federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Michelle MacDonald in March 2015 against Dakota County stemming from her arrest while representing Sandra Grazzini-Rucki in a family court hearing has been dismissed.

It was during the custody hearing involving Grazzini-Rucki and her ex-husband, David Rucki, on September 12, 2013, that MacDonald took pictures in the courtroom which led to her being arrested.

MacDonald spent a portion of the trial representing Grazzini-Rucki while confined to a wheelchair after her own refusal to walk back into the courtroom. MacDonald also refused to put on her shoes and glasses, or provide her legal name and address to law enforcement.

The Memorandum Opinion and Order Granting Defendants’ Summary Judgement, written by John R. Turnheim, Chief Judge of United State District Court of Minnesota, dismisses all of MacDonald’s claims. Because the court has ruled that no grounds exist for the lawsuit, attorneys representing Dakota County have requested that the court order MacDonald to pay costs incurred by Dakota County due to the lawsuit.

In March of 2016, the court dismissed many of MacDonald’s claims including, false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and retaliatory prosecution leaving only a few claims left to argue.

At that time, the court also found no grounds for claims of excessive force and state assault and battery “which related to her removal from the courtroom, removal of her personal effects, and placement in a wheelchair.”

Also dismissed were claims of equal protection, federal conspiracy, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress and finally a claim by Thomas Shimota, MacDonald’s husband, for loss of consortium. Continue reading →

New criminal charges filed against Dede Evavold

September 14, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold has been charged with three criminal counts of violating a Harassment Restraining Order granted by a court in Dakota County to protect David Rucki and his family from Evavold’s continued harassment.

She has been charged with three misdemeanors and if convicted, Evavold could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine on each charge.

Evavold is scheduled to be arraigned at the Dakota County Western Service Center in Apple Valley on October 17, 2017, at 9:00 AM.

Evavold was sentenced on November 10, 2016 after being found guilty of six felony charges related to her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who were abducted by their mother near their home in Lakeville, Minnesota on April 19, 2013 during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

The HRO requested by David Rucki and Samantha Rucki also protects Gianna Rucki and two other minor Rucki children from being harassed by Evavold.

Since the HRO was granted, Evavold has repeatedly violated the conditions of the HRO with her continuous harassment and threatening behavior toward the Rucki family.

According to the criminal complaint, Evavold violated the HRO by referencing the Rucki family in her use of social media and by posting pictures of the Rucki children just days after being served with the HRO.

Evavold facing additional jail for probation violations

Evavold is also facing more jail time after a judge in Dakota County accepted the recommendations of Dakota County Community Corrections who want Evavold back in jail for repeatedly violating the terms of her probation.

Evavold has been summoned to appear in Dakota County District Court for a Probation Violation Hearing on September 28, 2017.

According to a written recommendation submitted by Dakota County Community Corrections, Evavold violated the terms of probation when she “[f]ailed to comply with order to, not reference any of the Grazzini-Rucki family on any social media.”

Click here to read more about Evavold, and check back to Missing in Minnesota for additional updates.

Court affirms ruling that Michelle MacDonald ‘knowingly violated’ campaign law

September 11, 2017 Comments Off read Legal Developments, Michelle MacDonald

The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed a ruling from the Office of Administrative Hearings that Michelle MacDonald, who was a candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2016, “knowingly violated” campaign law when she falsely claimed she was endorsed by a non-existent Republican organization.

Last December, the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) ruled against MacDonald and also imposed a $500 civil penalty for violating the Minnesota Fair Campaign Practices Act. The initial complaint against MacDonald was filed by Barbara Linert of Eagan and Steve Timmer of Edina.

The ruling from the Minnesota Court of Appeals highlighted that “the falsity of [MacDonald’s] statement” is what triggered the violation of the law:

In an interview about today’s ruling Linert said “Michelle MacDonald asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals to find the Minnesota Fair Campaign Practices Act unconstitutional and a violation of her First Amendment rights.”

Linert continued, “if they had found in her favor, any candidate in any election could lie about their endorsement without penalty of law. The court saw the importance of protecting voters from that chaos and ruled against her.”

“Hopefully this will be the final nail in the coffin of Michelle MacDonald’s judicial aspirations,” added Linert.

Timmer called the ruling “an important, win for protecting voters from deception.”

Timmer added, “MacDonald’s position was that she could say anything, truthful or not, and be protected by the First Amendment. Our counsel, Karl Procaccini from Greene Espel, framed the issue perfectly in his opening remarks to the Court of Appeals: Does ‘Michelle MacDonald have a constitutional right to lie about an endorsement she doesn’t have?'” Continue reading →

Dede Evavold facing additional jail time

August 29, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold is facing more jail time after a judge in Dakota County accepted the recommendations of Dakota County Community Corrections who want Evavold back in jail for repeatedly violating the terms of her probation.

Evavold has been summoned to appear in Dakota County District Court for a Probation Violation Hearing on September 28, 2017.

As previously reported by Missing in Minnesota, Evavold has repeatedly violated the explicit terms of her probation by continuing to reference the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Evavold was sentenced on November 10, 2016 after being found guilty of six felony charges related to her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who were abducted by their mother near their home in Lakeville, Minnesota on April 19, 2013 during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki. Continue reading →

Probation requests court issue warrant for Evavold

August 25, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dakota County Community Corrections has requested the issuance of a summons/warrant for Dede Evavold based on a Probation Violation Report filed with Dakota County District Court earlier today.

The details of the report are not available to the public at this time but as reported by Missing in Minnesota, Evavold has repeatedly violated the terms of her probation by mentioning the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Evavold has also violated a recently granted Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) which specifically restricted her from harassing and threatening the Rucki family by mentioning them in her use of social media.

A court hearing will be scheduled about the Probation Violated Report when the court signs the request for a summon/warrant for Evavold.

Evavold defends Neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, and white supremacist gathering in Charolettesville

August 17, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold, who was convicted of six felonies related to her involvement in the disappearance of two sisters, has published numerous posts defending the Neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, and white supremacist gathering Charolettesville, Virginia which led to the death of three people.

Evavold’s defense of the Unite the Right rally held last week comes at a time when she is violating both a recently granted restraining order and the terms of her probation by harassing and threatening David Rucki and his family from Lakeville, Minnesota.

Missing in Minnesota is not linking to the posts published by Evavold because of the incendiary tone of material and also due to her perpetual harassment of the Rucki family.

Continue reading →

Dede Evavold violates both restraining order and probation

August 14, 2017 Comments Off read Archives, Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold continues to violate both the terms of her probation and a recently granted Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) which specifically restrict her from harassing and threatening the Rucki family by mentioning them in her use of social media.

On July 31, 2017, Evavold was served with the HRO at her home in St. Cloud which was granted by a court in Dakota County at the request of David Rucki and his daughter, Samantha Rucki, against Evavold. Days earlier, a court in Dakota County ruled that “an immediate and present danger of harassment” by Evavold existed to warrant the granting of the HRO.

The HRO requested by David Rucki and Samantha Rucki also protects Gianna Rucki and two other minor Rucki children from being harassed by Evavold. Since the HRO was granted and served on Evavold she has repeatedly violated the HRO and thus the conditions of her probation which were imposed at her sentencing hearing last year. Continue reading →

Dede Evavold violates restraining order

August 9, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold has repeatedly violated the Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) granted by a court in Dakota County to protect the Rucki family from her continued harassment and threatening behavior.

Less than two weeks ago, a court in Dakota County ruled “an immediate and present danger of harassment” by Evavold existed to warrant the granting of an HRO requested by David Rucki and his daughter, Samantha Rucki, against Evavold.

Evavold was convicted last September of six felonies for her role in the disappearance of Samantha Rucki and her sister Gianna, who were abducted near their home on Lakeville by their mother Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, during a custody and divorce proceeding.

The HRO requested by David Rucki and Samantha Rucki also protected Gianna Rucki and two other minor Rucki children from being harassed by Evavold. According to court documents, the Harassment Restraining Order against Evavold is in effect until July 27, 2019.

Since the HRO was served on Evavold on July 31, 2017 at her home in St. Cloud, Evavold has ignored the court order by harassing and threatening the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Continue reading →

Court grants restraining order against Dede Evavold

July 31, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

A court in Dakota County has found that “an immediate and present danger of harassment” by Dede Evavold exists to warrant the granting of a Harassment Restraining Order requested by David Rucki and his daughter, Samantha Rucki, against Evavold.

Since being released from jail in January, Evavold has continued to harass and target the Rucki family in her use of social media, including posting pictures of the Rucki family and their home in Lakeville.

The Harassment Restraining Order requested by David Rucki and Samantha Rucki also protects Gianna Rucki and two other minor Rucki children from being harassed by Evavold.

According to court documents, the Harassment Restraining Order against Evavold is in effect until July 27, 2019. Continue reading →

Convicted felon Evavold continues to harass Rucki family

July 20, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold, who completed her jail sentence in January after being convicted of six felonies for her role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki from Lakeville, continues to harass and target the Rucki family in her use of social media.

As previously reported by Missing in Minnesota, Evavold has repeatedly violated the explicit terms of her probation by continuing to reference the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Evavold was charged in December 2015 related to her involvement in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters, who were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

Last week, Evavold’s blog published a post which not only mentions multiple members of the Rucki family, including Samantha Rucki, but the post also contained a picture surreptitiously taken of the Rucki family talking with their attorney before they entered a courtroom for a hearing.

After Evavold posted a picture of the Rucki home in Lakeville on social media, a representative of the Rucki family told Missing in Minnesota that Evavold’s behavior shows she does not comprehend the severity of her crimes, and that Evavold still poses a direct threat to the Rucki family and the general public.

On September 29, 2016, Evavold was found guilty on six felony counts for her role in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters. At that time, Judge Karen Asphaug made the decision to keep Evavold in custody rather than permitting her to return home until the time of her sentencing hearing on November 10, 2016.

In reference to her decision to remand Evavold to custody, Judge Karen Asphaug said, “…I do not have faith that she will appear for sentencing, nor do I have faith that she will obey the no-contact orders that have been issued in this case.” Continue reading →