The driver who struck and killed Jerome Meuwissen as he attempted to cross Highway 41 at Second Street this past December was sentenced in Carver County Court last week.

Carver County Attorney Jim Keeler announced Friday that his office charged Daniel Thomas Saba, 37, with felony first-degree burglary for illegally entering a residence in Chanhassen on May 6, 2009.

Saba is a resident of Shorewood and a Minnetonka police officer who is currently on leave from his job.

On May 5, 2009, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed Carver County District Court Judge Philip Kanning’s decision dismissing Bruce and Darlene Schwichtenberg’s lawsuit against Carver County and the Schwichtenberg’s neighbors, according to a release from Carver County.

“Mr. Kettner, from what I know about you, I venture to guess that you would trade places with Mr. Kuisle if you could,” Judge Richard Perkins said to a somber LuAllen Kettner last Friday morning.

“I would,” Kettner choked out, his voice trembling on the verge of tears.

Kettner, 74, stood before Perkins awaiting sentencing for a misdemeanor traffic offense for failing to drive with due care on May 15, 2008.

On April 24 Carver County District Court Judge Richard Perkins sentenced Larry Andrew Suplinski, 21, to prison for almost 10 years for sexually assaulting a girl.

Suplinski will serve a minimum of 79-1/3 months of the 119-month sentence in prison, with a maximum of 39-2/3 months on supervised release, according to a press release from the Carver County Attorney’s Office.

After he completes the sentence, the Commissioner of Corrections will place him on conditional release for 10 years, minus the time served on supervised release, the release stated.

Gaylord Police Chief Dale Lee Roiger, 60, has been charged with misconduct of a public officer and illegal interception of communications, both gross misdemeanors, by the Carver County Attorney’s Office.

Gregory Todd Benedix, 43, of Chaska, has been charged with two misdemeanors in the death of a pedestrian in downtown Chaska, according to a Carver County Attorney's Office press release.

Benedix is charged with two counts of Failing to Yield to a Pedestrian, both misdemeanors and each punishable by up to 90 days in jail and $1,000 fine.

The incident occurred in the morning of Dec. 3, 2008. Jerome Meuwissen, age 86, was crossing Highway 41 in the marked crosswalk at Second Street when he was allegedly struck by Benedix's SUV, stated the press release.

Felony criminal charges have been filed against Charity Lynn Hendricks, 32, of Chanhassen, for fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits, according to a press release from Carver County Attorney Jim Keeler.

Hendricks worked in the Carver County Auditor’s Office beginning in 2008. The criminal complaint alleges that while working for Carver County, Hendricks unlawfully collected over $6,000 in unemployment insurance benefits from the state of Minnesota, the release stated.

By Nancy Huddleston

A jury of five women and seven men found the man who has been dubbed the “Craigslist killer” guilty on all charges against him, including first-degree, premeditated murder. He now faces the possibility of life in prison.