Watson
CRIME & SAFETY
Rongstad pleads guilty to making threats
(Montevideo MN-) Former Watson Mayor Joseph Rongstad has pled guilty to two counts of Threats of Violence for threatening the lives of University of Minnesota students online January 11th. Ronstad, 42, has been battling mental illness for several years, which resulted in some run-ins with the law. but earlier this year Judge Jennifer Fischer ruled Rongstad was mentally competent to stand trial. Last week Rongstad's attorney stated he planned to use a "defense of necessity" at Rongstad's trial in which Rongstad would testify that the reason he made the threats was to draw attention to what he called was a secret government conspiracy to kill people in the Upper Minnesota River Valley area. Rongstad pleaded guilty to two of three charges against him with the understanding he will be given a minimum sentence of 21 months in prison, and will be given time in court to expain why he did what he did. Sentencing takes place August 22nd (1:45 p.m.).
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.