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Barron News Shieldhome : news : news : top stories
Rasmussen stands mute; judge enters not guilty pleas
By: Luke Klink 10/31/2009
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Not guilty pleas were entered last week for Ronald J. Rasmussen of Almena, who faces four felony charges related to a fatal motorcycle accident on U.S. near Bruce last month.

Rusk County Circuit Court Judge Frederick Henderson entered the pleas for Rasmussen, 42, of Almena, who stood mute in the courtroom.

Rasmussen is charged with homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle-class G felony, hit and run resulting in death-class D felony, and two counts of first degree reckless endangerment-class F felony.

The charges resulted from a motor vehicle accident Sept. 20, on U.S. 8 near Beebe's Crossing in the Town of Thornapple. The accident caused the death of Corey D. Berkman, 35, of St. Cloud, Minn.

According to the criminal complaint, Berkman and two other motorcyclists Cole J. Hetchler and Benjamin A. Eskola were on the gravel shoulder of the road and were trying to fix Berkman's motorcycle.

Hetchler reported the westbound truck driven by Rasmussen veered toward them before striking all three motorcycles and Berkman. Hetchler and Eskola managed to jump out of the way, but Berkman could not jump out of the way in time and sustained massive head trauma.

Rasmussen returned to talk with the motorcyclists, but soon fled. Law enforcement searched with a K-9 unit in a nearby woods. They found Rasmussen the next morning at a Bruce motel.

The accident was the first fatal highway accident in Rusk County this year.
Rasmussen faces penalties of not more than 60 years in prison and fines of not more than $175,000 if convicted of all charges. He is currently being held in the Rusk County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond.

A pre-trial conference for Rasmussen has been set for 9 a.m., Dec. 15. A jury trial has been set for 9 a.m., Jan. 21.


©Barron News Shield 2009
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