Former Sen. Nicole Mitchell sentenced to work release

Former Sen. Nicole Mitchell sentenced to work release for burglary

Former Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell was sentenced to six months of work release on Tuesday for her burglary conviction after she broke into her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes.

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (FOX 9) - Former Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell was sentenced to six months of work release on Tuesday for her burglary conviction after she broke into her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes.

Mitchell spoke before learning her sentence, saying, "I deserve to be here today. The things said and the harm I caused are real. I completely abide by whatever you feel is fair. It's wrong to hurt anybody, but especially, in my opinion, someone you love."

Nicole Mitchell sentenced

What's next:

A jury found Mitchell guilty of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools after a week-long trial in July. Mitchell was sentenced in Becker County on Tuesday morning.

A Becker County judge handed down a 21-month stayed sentence with supervised probation for five years. The judge also ordered Mitchell to serve 180 days of work release at Ramsey County Jail.

Mitchell faced a minimum of six months in jail or workhouse, but her defense team requested a lighter sentence and asked that she serve out her sentence in Ramsey County. The defense is also disputing the $23,585 in restitution.

However, the prosecution says Mitchell should serve out her sentence in Becker County, where the crime occurred, though the judge decided with the defense.

Victim impact statements

What they're saying:

Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald read a victim impact statement for Carol Mitchell, Nicole’s stepmother, on her behalf.

"I believe Nicole planned it all carefully and had expected to find my pistol, shoot me, and put the gun in my hand so it would eventually be found. It would look like a suicide," the lawyer read. "She must have felt that all would believe that I chose to leave this world and join Rod out of my deep grief, and she thought she would inherit everything. The fear that Nicole created when she broke into my house has not left me. I am afraid for my life."

The lawyer continued, "I am flabbergasted by Nicole's actions, and I'm concerned about her mental health. What she did is not a normal reaction at a time of a lost loved one. She went completely off the grid out of pure greed. My life will never be the same. Fear has moved in with me to stay. How could I ever trust Nicole again?"

After court, Carol Mitchell discussed the sentence handed down by the judge: "I don’t think six months is very much time for what she put me through. At least I know it’s going to hurt her, with her children and losing her job and that type of thing, so I guess there’s definite repercussions for what she did."

Burglary conviction

The backstory:

Mitchell was accused of breaking into the Detroit Lakes home belonging to her stepmother. She was arrested after police caught her in the household in the early morning hours of April 22, 2024.

At trial, Mitchell claimed she had gone to the home to check on her stepmother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and was living alone following the death of Mitchell's father. She said she had snuck into the home because she didn't want to agitate her stepmother.

However, police body camera video showed Mitchell dressed in a stereotypical burglar's outfit, dressed in all black with a black cap. Police said she had a flashlight with a sock covering the light.

Speaking with police, Mitchell admitted, "Clearly, I'm not good at this."

The prosecution argued the "why" Mitchell offered didn't justify burglary.