The trial for Waseca Mayor Randy Zimmerman will continue until at least next month, as a three-day trial that was scheduled for last week (June 11-13) was postponed.
Another pre-trial is set for July 23 at the Waseca County Courthouse and will be prosecuted by Rice County Attorney Brian Mortenson. Zimmerman was charged with two counts of felony perjury after being accused of providing false address information during his 2022 campaign for mayor.
The investigation of the case started after the city of Waseca received a complaint alleging that Zimmerman did not reside in the city during the 30 days prior to the election, which is a requirement.
The Albert Lea Police Department investigated the claim due to a possible conflict of interest for local law enforcement. The Albert Lea PD learned that Zimmerman had a Woodville Township address on his driver’s license during its investigation.
Zimmerman stated that he was waiting until after the election to change his address on his license, as he indicated that his residence was 313 4th Ave. NE in Waseca when he filed an affidavit of candidacy with the Minnesota Secretary of State in August of 2022 for the office of Waseca mayor.
The 313 4th Ave. NE is actually owned by Zimmerman’s mother, and Zimmerman stated that he uses his mother’s address as his mailing address, as he still receives mail at his mother’s house from time to time.
Zimmerman said that his plan was always to move into the city of Waseca if he was elected as mayor, as he purchased an unimproved lot located at 304 19th Ave. in Waseca.
A pre-trial for the case was held last month before the scheduled three-day trial in June. Thomas Kraus, Zimmerman’s lawyer, requested the jury trial be delayed to a later date for a few reasons: Mortenson said he was scheduled for another trial in Rice County that may conflict with the Zimmerman trial, the case may be a backup to another criminal matter, and one of the defense witnesses was unable to attend the scheduled trial.
The request for continuance was denied, as the state deemed the witness not necessary for either party. However, the case was the second set for the trial block of June 11, so District Court Judge Carol Hanks did state that the case may be continued if the first case set for the week was tried.
The trial was then continued after the state realized the hearing time directly conflicts with a Rice County Treatment Court mandatory training and evaluation day with national evaluators from All Rise.
Other reasons for the continuance included the inspection of Zimmerman’s new construction at his new Waseca property and a witness having done work for the defense counsel’s law firm.
The state learned that Zimmerman had hooked up the new construction of his Waseca property to the city water supply without installing a meter, which is required. Zimmerman told an official at the city of Waseca that he didn’t know that he needed a meter for the water supply.
Because of this, the state needs more time to evaluate whether this information is legally relevant and admissible for potential impeachment.
The state conducted witness meetings at the beginning of this month, including one with the witness who reported the alleged crime to law enforcement. The witness informed the state that she has worked for the defense counsel’s law firm periodically.
Some of her work for the firm was during the pendency of the Zimmerman case. This information will be addressed in court to make sure all parties are aware of it. The state is raising the concern based on the prosecutor’s obligation to preserve the integrity of any potential conviction.
A pre-trial for the case is set for July 23 with the trial to take place shortly after that.
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