North Branch man indicted by grand jury in criminal sexual conduct case

Press release provided by Chisago County Attorney's Office

A North Branch man, Donald Edmond Warner, 44, has been indicted by a Chisago County grand jury on two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first-degree in connection with a 2010 cold case.

Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter announced the charges in a press release issued on June 24.

“The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing for the victim involved and for the community as a whole,” Reiter said. “My office will work hard to ensure the victims receive justice.”

Warner was previously charged by criminal complaint in December 2023 for the criminal conduct supporting this indictment. The facts and circumstances surrounding this indictment are contained in that criminal complaint.

This indictment by the grand jury allows Chisago County prosecutors to seek a life sentence if Warner is convicted in district court. Warner is charged separately for an attempted sexual assault occurring in the city of Lindstrom in July 2017. The facts and circumstances of that case are contained in that criminal complaint.

Warner was taken into custody on the indictment and made his first court appearance on the new file on June 24. His current bail is set at $1.5 million. He was granted alternative conditional release with the requirement that he also post $750,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 2.

Reiter thanked the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office, the Lakes Area Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for their combined investigation into the case.

If you have questions, contact the Chisago County Attorney’s Office at 651-213-8400. An indictment is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.