Jury Convicts Minn. State Senator Of First-Degree Burglary

Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, was found guilty of first-degree burglary in a stunning conclusion to a legal saga that began more than a year ago.

In April 2024, Mitchell was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary after allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home with the intent to take items that once belonged to her late father. A second felony charge, possession of burglary or theft tools, was later added by prosecutors.

Mitchell’s trial began on Monday and featured body-camera footage, several witnesses, and the senator testifying in her own defense. On Friday, the defense rested their case and both sides made their closing arguments.

During the trial, Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald argued that Mitchell’s guilt was demonstrated by statements she made on the morning she was arrested by police.

Those statements include “I have never done anything like this,” “There were just a couple things of my dad’s I wanted to come get,” “I’m clearly not good at this,” “I know I did something bad,” and “I just wanted to get a couple of my dad’s mementos.”

Additionally, the prosecution highlighted how Mitchell entered the house through an egress window under cover of darkness, was dressed in black clothing, had a flashlight with a sock covering it, and went to great efforts not to be noticed.

According to the defense, Mitchell’s statements from her arrest were “white lies” Mitchell told to keep her stepmother from knowing the real reason she was in the home. At trial, Mitchell said she did not take anything from the home and did not intend to take anything.

After a three-hour deliberation, the jury convicted Mitchell of both felony charges.