Mays convicted on gross misdemeanor assault charge

Michael Donzel Mays, 34, Little Falls, was sentenced in Morrison County District Court to 30 days in local confinement with sentence to serve and work release granted as approved by the sheriff and jail and supervised probation for two years and fined $660 for one gross misdemeanor count of a subsequent violation of assault. One felony count of assault by strangulation was dismissed.

If Mays breaks the conditions of his supervised probation, which include no contact with the victim, no alcohol or controlled substance use and submitting to random testing, he faces up to 334 additional days in local confinement.

The charges stem from a Nov. 12, 2023 incident, when an officer of the Little Falls Police Department received a report of an assault in Little Falls. Per the report, the victim went to the police department and met with the officer.

According to the report, the officer noted the victim was crying and had tears running down her face. She had a bruise and a partially swollen left eye. Her forehead appeared to have a lump and her lip appeared to have fresh blood on it. The victim was brought into an interview room for a statement.

The victim identified her assaulter as Mays. She said Mays took her car keys and vehicle, so she left their apartment and ran to the police department for help. She said he had been consuming alcoholic beverages at his apartment. She said Mays became upset with her and kicked her several times in the mouth, head and body, according to the report.

The previous day, he allegedly punched the victim and caused bruising and swelling to her eye. She said Mays also choked her, per the report. She demonstrated how Mays choked her by showing he had two hands around the front of her neck. She said she couldn’t breathe while Mays was choking her. She said this was not the first time Mays choked her.

According to the report, Mays was later located travelling as a passenger in the victim’s vehicle in Little Falls. A sergeant spoke with Mays and asked what happened that night. Mays said nothing had happened. He was placed under arrest for assault. When booked into the jail, Mays had a PBT test showing an alcohol concentration of .219.

An examination of Mays’ criminal history showed that he was previously convicted of violating an Order for Protection in Morrison County District Court from October 2023. That prior conviction enhanced the offense.