Category Legal Developments

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki to file another harassment restraining order

October 11, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Legal Developments

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki intends on filing another fraudulent harassment restraining order against me when she is released from jail within the next two weeks, according to statements made by her attorney Michelle MacDonald to members of the media, and based on information communicated by MacDonald to my attorneys.

Last month, a Dakota County Deputy Sheriff served me with a harassment restraining order that was granted by Judge John McBride in Washington County at the request of Grazzini-Rucki.

Judge McBride later vacated and dismissed the same harassment restraining order.

The order was dismissed for procedural reasons; Grazzini-Rucki used the Stillwater office address of MacDonald to claim she was a resident of Washington County. Judge McBride agreed with the arguments made by my attorneys, Nathan Hansen and Ryan Griffin, that Grazzini-Rucki failed to file her request for a harassment restraining order in the proper county and therefore, Judge McBride vacated and dismissed the order.

Because the harassment restraining order was dismissed for procedural reason, Grazzini-Rucki has the option of filing the same fraudulent request for a harassment restraining order in another county in Minnesota when she is released from jail, which she intends to do.

While I am happy the harassment restraining order was vacated and dismissed, the court did not examine the allegations made by Grazzini-Rucki in her original request for the harassment order.

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MN Supreme Court candidate ‘debate’ canceled; Was it ever really scheduled?

October 11, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Michelle MacDonald

Michelle MacDonald won’t be participating in a debate against incumbent Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson, as the organizers of the debate quietly announced the event was canceled in tweet on Sunday morning.

MacDonald, who serves as Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s family court attorney, claimed last week that she would be appearing against Hudson “head to head in a televised debate” hosting by the Minnesota Voters Alliance this Wednesday evening.

Less than an hour after MacDonald announced she would be debating Hudson, a representative of the Minnesota Voters Alliance said Hudson had not yet been invited to participate in the debate.

Andy Cilek, Executive Director of the Minnesota Voters Alliance said MacDonald’s email was not accurate as Hudson would be formally invited to participate in the debate the following day.

But on Sunday, Cilek announced in an early morning tweet that the debate was “canceled due to scheduling conflicts. It will not be re-scheduled.”

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Sandra Grazzini-Rucki loses another attorney

October 7, 2016 Comments Off read Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Stephen Grigsby, who served as Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s attorney during her criminal trial for deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of her daughters, has been granted his request to be released from representing Grazzini-Rucki.

Judge Karen Asphaug granted Grigsby’s request to stop serving as Grazzini-Rucki’s attorney at a hearing earlier this week.

Grigsby (pictured above left) was Grazzini-Rucki’s second criminal defense attorney after she was charged with deprivation of parental rights involving her daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters ran from their home on April 19, 2013 during a custody and divorce proceeding involving their parents.

Michelle MacDonald, (pictured above right) who serves as Grazzini-Rucki’s family court attorney was replaced as Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal defense attorney by Grigsby on November 18, 2015 – the same day the girls were found living on a ranch in northern Minnesota by law enforcement, headed by the Lakeville Police Department.

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Grazzini-Rucki’s attorney issues blunt warning: She has ‘no intentions to comply with probation’

October 4, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

In a blunt warning, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal defense attorney said his client has “no intentions to comply with probation,” after her request was denied by a judge yesterday which would have allowed Grazzini-Rucki to serve more time in jail instead of probation for her role in the disappearance of her daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

In July, Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty on six counts of deprivation of parental rights. The sisters ran from their home on April 19, 2013 during a custody and divorce proceeding involving their parents. Continue reading →

Court denies Grazzini-Rucki’s request to execute sentence

October 3, 2016 Comments Off read Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Judge Karen Asphaug has denied a request by Sandra Grazzini-Rucki to serve her full sentence in prison, which would have allowed Grazzini-Rucki to avoid being on probation for the next six years. Grazzini-Rucki made the request to execute her sentence within hours of her sentencing hearing on September 21, 2016.

In July, Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty on six counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of her daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters ran from their home on April 19, 2013 during a custody and divorce proceeding involving their parents.

Grazzini-Rucki will now remain in jail at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility in St. Paul until October 24, 2016.

Starting in 2017, Grazzini-Rucki will serve 15 days in jail on November 18 for the next six years – the anniversary of the day her daughters were found, for her involvement in the disappearance of her two daughters for over two years. Grazzini-Rucki must also serve 12 days of Sentencing of Service for the next six years.

Grazzini-Rucki will also pay $10,000 to the Minnesota Crime Victim’s Reparations Board. She must also pay two fines of $944, which represents the 944 days her daughters were missing.
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Evavold found guilty for her role in disappearance of Rucki sisters

September 29, 2016 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Deirdre (Dede) Evavold was convicted this afternoon on six counts of deprivation of parental rights for her role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

It took the jury at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings less than an hour to convict Evavold on all criminal counts she faced.

Evavold showed no emotion when the verdict was announced, but she later broke down and started crying when Judge Karen Asphaug remanded Evavold into immediate custody.

A Dakota County Sheriff’s Deputy needed to help Evavold stand, as she was visibly shaken and distraught. Evavold was removed from the courtroom and booked into jail in Hastings.

Evavold will remain in custody without bail until her sentencing hearing on November 10, 2016.

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Dede Evavold’s criminal trial begins today

September 26, 2016 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Deirdre Evavold’s criminal trial on six counts of deprivation of parental rights begins today at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings.

Evavold has been charged with a total of six felony counts for her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

Samantha and Gianna Rucki disappeared on April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents.

Evavold is a close friend and confidant of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, the mother of Samantha and Gianna, who she met during Grazzini-Rucki’s divorce with David Rucki. Continue reading →

Grazzini-Rucki sentenced to jail for role in disappearance of daughters

September 21, 2016 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was sentenced by Judge Karen Asphaug to serve 34 days in jail and for the following six years, she will serve 15 days in jail on November 18 for the next six years – the anniversary of the day her daughters were found, for her involvement in the disappearance of her two daughters for over two years.

Grazzini-Rucki, who was immediately taken into custody, will also be on probation for the next six years, and she is prohibited from having contact with any of the victims.

Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty in July on six counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of her daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters ran from their home on April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce proceeding involving their parents. Continue reading →

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki files fraudulent harassment order to prevent media coverage

September 14, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Earlier this afternoon, a Dakota County Deputy Sheriff served me with a harassment restraining order that was granted by Judge John McBride in Washington County at the request of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, who was convicted of six felony counts in July for deprivations of parental rights.

It is my belief that Grazzini-Rucki filed the fraudulent petition to prevent me from continuing to report on the legal developments in her criminal trial and others who have been criminally charged related to the disappearance Grazzini-Rucki’s children.

Today’s development is another sad example of Grazzini-Rucki’s documented behavior of using the court process to make false allegations against people she does not like.

During her criminal trial in July, Grazzini-Rucki admitted in testimony that she had repeatedly been “dishonest” when she previously testified under oath in her divorce and custody proceeding. Continue reading →

How the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling helped find the Rucki sisters

September 4, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Like many of you, I was saddened to learn the news yesterday that Patty Wetterling had confirmed the body of her long-lost son, 11-year Jacob Wetterling, had been recovered.

According to media reports, Danny Heinrich, who has been labeled a “person of interest” by law enforcement in the disappearance of Jacob, led authorities to the remains of his body.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed last evening that Jacob’s body has been recovered, but it was Patty Wetterling’s statement earlier in the day which ended the search for her son, a search which began over 26 years ago. Continue reading →

Additional criminal charges filed against Evavold in disappearance of missing sisters

August 30, 2016 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

The Dakota County Attorney’s Office has filed additional criminal charges against Dede (Deidre) Evavold for her involvement in the disappearance of two sisters from Lakeville.

Four additional felony charges of deprivation of parental rights have been filed against Evavold, who has now been charged with a total of six felony counts for her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

Samantha and Gianna Rucki disappeared on April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents.

Evavold is a close friend and confidant of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, the mother of Samantha and Gianna, who she met during Grazzini-Rucki’s divorce with David Rucki.

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Court allows audio and video coverage of Grazzini-Rucki’s sentencing hearing

August 23, 2016 Comments Off read Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Judge Karen Asphaug has granted a request to allow audio and video coverage of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s upcoming sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for September 21, 2016.

Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty last month on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of her daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters ran from their home on April 19, 2013 during a custody and divorce proceeding involving their parents.

David Rucki was awarded full custody of all five of his children in November 2013, while two of his daughters remained missing. On November 18, 2015 – 944 days after they disappeared – the girls were found living on a ranch in northern Minnesota by law enforcement, headed by the Lakeville Police Department. Rucki was reunited with his daughters days after they were found and they live with him at the family’s home in Lakeville.

According to Judge Asphaug’s order, there will be “no audio or video coverage of any victim testimony given during the proceedings.” Judge Apshaug’s order also states that any “audio/video coverage shall be limited to the proceedings conducted within the courtroom…”

Audio or video coverage is also “is prohibited during recesses or at any other time the trial judge is not present and presiding” and any audio or video coverage “shall not extend to activities occurring in other areas of the court building.” Continue reading →

Michelle MacDonald dishonest about past attorney discipline

August 19, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Legal Developments, Michelle MacDonald

Michelle MacDonald vigorously denied any additional attorney complaints had been filed against her when asked during an interview earlier this year with Republicans who were deciding if she would be endorsed again in her bid for the Minnesota Supreme Court, despite being disciplined in 2012.

In her interview with the Republican Party of Minnesota’s Judicial Elections Committee on May 13, 2016, MacDonald acknowledges that an attorney complaint was filed against her in April 2014 with the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board by Judge David Knutson.

Knutson filed the complaint based on MacDonald’s behavior while serving as Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s family court attorney.

MacDonald said in her interview that she had not been informed by the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board if the investigation into Knutson’s complaint had not been completed.

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Attorney complaint filed against Michelle MacDonald

August 18, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Legal Developments, Michelle MacDonald

A 16-page petition for disciplinary action for violating of rules governing attorney conduct has been filed against Michelle MacDonald by the Director of the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, Susan M. Humiston.

The complaint against MacDonald is focused on her behavior during family court proceedings involving Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and her legal representation of Joseph Francis D’Costa. The complaint alleges MacDonald disorganization required the trial to last longer than necessary, adding that MacDonald offered exhibits that “were a mess.”

MacDonald’s attorney told Minnesota Lawyer that she will fight the complaint.

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Attorney: Grazzini-Rucki used donated ‘food stamp cards’ for bail

August 3, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Legal Developments, Michelle MacDonald, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

UPDATE: (8:00 PM, Monday, August 3, 2016) – When asked to comment on the statements from Gary Mogen, who posted the $50,000 bond for Grazzini-Rucki, MacDonald wrote: “it is what it is.” MacDonald added that as the bail bondsman, Mogen “is not concerned with how the cash is raised.”

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Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was able to post her $50,000 bail within hours of being convicted of six felonies for deprivation of parental rights, by using donated “food stamp cards” according to her attorney, Michelle MacDonald.

Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty last week on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of her daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters ran from their home on April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce proceeding involving their Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki. Continue reading →