WORTHINGTON — Three individuals were sentenced recently in criminal cases previously reported on by The Globe.
Janet Laurel Knutson, 63, of Mountain Lake, was sentenced in Cottonwood County Fifth District Court on April 4, after pleading guilty to two counts of malicious punishment of a child.
Knutson was charged in November 2022 with felony threats of violence and three gross misdemeanor counts of malicious punishment of a child after local law enforcement received multiple reports alleging abuse of a child. She entered a guilty plea in January, and all other charges were dismissed.
She was sentenced to four years of supervised probation, with 60 days of electronic home monitoring. Additional conditions of Knutson’s sentencing are outpatient counseling and $880 in court fees.
On April 11, David Khounsanthone, 41, of Mountain Lake was sentenced in Cottonwood County Fifth District Court on the charge of ineligible firearm or ammunition possession, a felony offense. Khounsanthone was additionally charged with third-degree drug possession, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, and fleeing by other means after failing to obey a traffic stop .
He entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 60 months in a Minnesota correctional facility, with 92 days credit for time already served. All other charges were dismissed, as per the plea agreement. He will additionally be required to pay $155 in court fines.
In Nobles County, Gerald Simpson, 32, was sentenced in April after being convicted of one count of felony domestic assault. He was charged with domestic assault, child endangerment, fourth-degree assault, property damage and obstruction in November 2022, following a police report of domestic assault .
Simpson pled guilty and was sentenced to 21 months in a Minnesota correctional facility, a sentence that was stayed for 5 years in favor of supervised probation. Simpson will serve 350 days in the Nobles County Jail with 162 days credit for time served. He is additionally required to complete a comprehensive assessment and attend domestic abuse counseling within 30 days of release.
Simpson will pay $1,160 in court fees, including a $1,000 fine.
The Southwest Crisis Center is available in our community to support and empower survivors of sexual and domestic violence. For questions about services or how you can help, contact the Southwest Crisis Center at 1-800-376-4311 or mnswcc.org .
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