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.
I attended every day of Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal trial and my previous reporting has been credited with helping law enforcement locate the children Grazzini-Rucki was convicted of hiding from their father.
Grazzini-Rucki is scheduled to be sentenced next week in Dakota County and the harassment order she requested in Washington County is clearly an attempt to harass and punish me before she receives her sentence.
In her affidavit and petition requesting the harassment restraining order, Grazzini-Rucki said her home address is in Stillwater. According to filings in Dakota County, Grazzini-Rucki actually lives in Hennepin County and I reside in Dakota County.
In fact, Grazzini-Rucki is required to keep Dakota County informed of her current address, but in her affidavit, she claims to reside in Stillwater.
The address where Grazzini-Rucki claims she lives is actually the Stillwater business address of her family court attorney, Michelle MacDonald. The court’s order, which is based on fraudulent information, is filled with fictitious examples of what Grazzini-Rucki’s describes as harassing behavior.
While I am frustrated Grazzini-Rucki provided false information to the court which then allowed the order to be granted, I have a responsibility to follow the court’s order, despite the process, Grazzini-Rucki used to obtain it.
Therefore, I will not attend a court hearing tomorrow morning involving Grazzini-Rucki, until I receive further clarification and guidance from my attorneys.
Within hours of being served, my attorneys requested a hearing to be held as soon as possible in Washington County to challenge the court’s order, as the order clearly infringes on my ability to exercise my First Amendment rights.
I will keep you informed of the legal developments involving Grazzini-Rucki, so please stay tuned for updates.
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