Charges: Princeton man threatens ex-wife with physical abuse

On Friday, May 17, a Princeton man threatened his previous significant other with physical abuse.

Multiple arguments throughout the week and drinking may have contributed to the threats, a criminal complaint filed with the Mille Lacs County District Court states.

Michael James Reece, 55, of Princeton, was charged with one count of threats of violence with purpose to terrorize or reckless disregard, and one count of domestic assault following the incident, according to the criminal complaint. Both charges are felonies and carry a maximum sentence of five years and/or a $10,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to an apartment at 7338 19th St. in Princeton for reports of threats.

The complaint states that a woman who was Reece’s ex-wife, who also reported the incident, was at the residence and was threatened by Reece. The report states that the woman and Reece had been married for several years before they divorced in 2015.

When deputies arrived at the scene, the woman said that Reece said he “would make (her) face unrecognizable” if she got Reece in trouble with the police, the complaint states.

The woman then stated that Reece had been drinking and was arguing with her on and off for several days. On the afternoon of the incident, the woman told Reece that he needed to stay elsewhere, the complaint states.

Requesting Reece stay elsewhere caused him to become upset and threatened her, according to the woman in the complaint.

The woman shared with deputies upon their arrival that she “had been scared for her life” at the time of her call.

The complaint states that the woman has a disability and that she needs Reece’s assistance with daily life tasks.

Reece admitted to deputies that he made the threat against the woman, but stated the threat was taken out of context and that he did not mean it, the complaint states. Reece was then taken into custody.

According to the complaint, Reece has three prior convictions for domestic assault, two of them within the past 10 years. Reece was also charged with domestic assault in 2017 but not convicted.

According to court documents on Monday, May 20, Reece was denied a public defender due to not being financially eligible.

Reece is set to appear in court for an initial appearance on May 28.