_____________________________________________________________________________

STATE OF MINNESOTA DISTRICT COURT

COUNTY OF DAKOTA FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT

COURT FILE NO. ________________

COUNTY ATTORNEY FILE NO.: CA-10-2152
CONTROLLING AGENCY: MN0190000
CONTROL NUMBER: 09001094
_____________________________________________________________________________

State of Minnesota,

Plaintiff, [ ] SUMMONS
[X] WARRANT
[ ] ORDER OF DETENTION
v. [ ] AMENDED

MELISSA LOUISE HOKANSON

30685 Foliage Avenue
Northfield, MN 55057
DOB: 03/03/91,
Defendant.

COMPLAINT

The Complainant, being duly sworn, makes complaint to the above-named Court and

states that there is probable cause to believe that the Defendant committed the following

offense(s):

COUNT I

MANSLAUGHTER IN THE SECOND DEGREE (CHILD NEGLECT)

M.S. § 609.205, subd.1(5); 609.378; and 609.101
0-10 years and/or $6,000-$20,000
MOC: H5904 GOC: N
[X] Felony [ ] Gross Misdemeanor [ ] Misdemeanor [ ] Petty Misdemeanor

That on or about June 19 through June 23, 2009, in part in Dakota County, Minnesota,
MELISSA LOUISE HOKANSON did cause the death of another by committing or attempting
to commit neglect of a child in violation of Minn. Stat. §609.378, subd.1(a)(1).

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 COUNT II

NEGLECT OF A CHILD
M.S. § 609.378, subd.1(b)(1); and 609.101
0-5 years and/or $3,000-$10,000
MOC: I1062 GOC: N
[X] Felony [ ] Gross Misdemeanor [ ] Misdemeanor [ ] Petty Misdemeanor

That on or about June 19 through June 23, 2009, in part in Dakota County, Minnesota,
MELISSA LOUISE HOKANSON, being a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker, did willfully
deprive a child of necessary health care or supervision appropriate to the child’s age when
the defendant was reasonably able to make the necessary provisions, and the deprivation
caused substantial harm to the child.

COUNT III

NEGLECT OF A CHILD
M.S. § 609.378, subd.1(a)(1); and 609.101
0-1 year and/or $900-$3,000
MOC: I2064 GOC: N
[ ] Felony [X] Gross Misdemeanor [ ] Misdemeanor [ ] Petty Misdemeanor

That on or about June 19 through June 23, 2009, in part in Dakota County, Minnesota,
MELISSA LOUISE HOKANSON, being a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker, did willfully
deprive a child of necessary health care or supervision appropriate to the child’s age when
the defendant was reasonably able to make the necessary provisions, and the deprivation
caused substantial harm to the child and the deprivation did harm or was likely to
substantially harm the child's physical, mental, or emotional health.

STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE

The Complainant states that the following facts establish probable cause:

Your Complainant is an investigator with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office. In that

capacity I have reviewed the police reports and believe the following to be true.

On June 23, 2009, paramedics were called to a Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, address on a

report of a 17-month-old infant who was not breathing and who was non-responsive.

Paramedics responded and observed a 17-month-old child having CPR performed on him.

Paramedics took over resuscitation efforts but were unable to revive the child, who was

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subsequently pronounced dead at the Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin, hospital. He had multiple

bruises on his face.

A medical examination was conducted and the medical examiner determined that the

child, N.A.M., date of birth 01/15/2008, had died of blunt force trauma, a subdural hematoma,

and a fracture to the back which caused lymphatic fluid to leak into his lung cavity and compress

his lungs. Based on his review of the injuries, the medical examiner believed that the injuries

were inflicted approximately two to four days prior to the victim’s death, which would have their

infliction occurring in the city of Northfield, Dakota County, Minnesota, where the victim’s

step-father and mother, Melissa Louise Hokanson, date of birth 3/31/91 (defendant herein) were

residing prior to leaving for Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, on Monday, June 22, 2009. Based on that

information, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Department took over investigation of the offense and

began interviewing numerous family members, including the victim’s step-father Tylar

Hokanson, the victim’s father B.M., and the defendant.

Investigators learned from B.M., who had custody of the victim the week before his death

that, while he was walking a little bit slower than normal, he appeared to be healthy, had a good

appetite, and had no issues with movement. B.M. indicated that he returned the victim to Tylar

Hokanson and the defendant’s home on June 19, 2009 at approximately 2:00 p.m. to the care of

the victim’s aunt. At the time that B.M. dropped the victim off, the victim reached for him,

screamed for him, and struggled to be with him instead of being left at Tylar Hokanson and the

defendant’s home.

Investigators subsequently learned that on June 19, 2009, at approximately 8:00 p.m.,

Tylar Hokanson shook N.A.M. no less than fifteen times with significant force. The defendant

walked into the room where Tylar Hokanson was assaulting the victim just after the assault

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completed and after she heard the victim cry out and took the victim away from Tylar Hokanson.

Both Tylar Hokanson and the defendant acknowledge watching the victim decline in health over

the next four days. The defendant indicated that the victim appeared to lose color, had difficulty

in movement, and had no appetite on Saturday, June 20, 2009. On Sunday, June 21, 2009, the

defendant indicated that the victim continued to decline and continued to lose color, did not have

interest in eating or activities, and a photograph was taken where the victim clearly looked to be

in pain on June 21, 2009. The victim continued to have difficulty in movement and continued to

have no appetite. He was also sweaty and was beginning to have difficulty breathing. Both

Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, passed with the defendant not seeking medical care for

the victim.

On Monday, June 22, 2009, the victim continued to decline and had difficulty breathing,

difficulty in movement, and when he walked his knees appeared to give out from under him.

Instead of seeking medical attention at this point, the defendant and Tylar Hokanson put the

children in the car and brought them to Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, where Tylar Hokanson’s

mother and step-father resided. The victim continued to have difficulty breathing, he was

sweaty, he exuded a body odor, and appeared to be in discomfort and pain. On Monday, June

22, 2009, the defendant and Tylar Hokanson failed to seek medical attention for the victim. The

defendant indicated she and Tylar Hokanson had brought the victim in previously when he was

behaving this way and the doctors had sent him home with a nebulizer treatment.

According to the victim’s step-grandmother, R.H., the victim did not sleep the night of

June 22, 2009. The victim tossed and turned and repeatedly said, “Mama.” When told this the

following morning, the defendant administered a nebulizer treatment to the victim, thinking that

perhaps he was having an asthma attack, but still failed to get medical assistance for him on

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Tuesday, June 23, 2009. At approximately 5:00 p.m. on June 23, 2009, the victim turned blue,

and family members began to perform CPR on him. The victim could not be revived and

subsequently died as a result of the injuries inflicted by Tylar Hokanson’s on June 19, 2009. For

four days, the victim went without medical care before his death on June 23, 2009. Both the

medical examiner and a pediatric child abuse expert indicated that with medical intervention the

victim could have survived the injuries that caused his death.

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NOTICE: You must appear for every court hearing on this charge. A failure
to appear for court on this charge is a criminal offense and may be punished as
provided in Minn. Stat. §609.49.

Complainant requests that Defendant, Melissa Louise Hokanson, subject to bail or conditions of
release, be:
(1) arrested or that other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendant’s appearance in court, or
(2) detained, if already in custody, pending further proceedings, and that said Defendant
otherwise be dealt with according to law.

COMPLAINANT’S NAME COMPLAINANT’S SIGNATURE

______________________________ _______________________________

Subscribed and sworn to before the undersigned this _____ day of _______________, 2010.

NOTARY STAMP: SIGNATURE

_______________________________
Notary Public

Being authorized to prosecute the offenses charged, I approve this complaint.

Date: (ajh) PROSECUTING ATTORNEY SIGNATURE:

_____________________________________
Name: James C. Backstrom
Dakota County Attorney
Dakota County Judicial Center
1560 Highway 55
Hastings MN 55033
(651) 438-4438
Attorney Registration No.: 3797

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 FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE
From the above sworn facts, and any supporting affidavits or supplemental sworn testimony, I, the Issuing Officer, have
determined that probable cause exists to support, subject to bail or conditions of release where applicable, Defendant’s arrest
or other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendant’s appearance in court, or Defendant’s detention, if already in custody,
pending further proceedings. Defendant is therefore charged with the above-stated offense.

[ ] SUMMONS
THEREFORE YOU, THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT, ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear on the date stated on
the attached Notice of Hearing before the above-named court at Dakota County Judicial Center, 1560 Highway 55, Hastings,
Minnesota, 55033 to answer this complaint.

IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR in response to this SUMMONS, a WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST shall be issued .

[X] WARRANT
To the Sheriff of the above-named county; or other person authorized to execute this warrant: I hereby order, in the name of
the State of Minnesota, that the above-named Defendant be apprehended and arrested without delay and brought promptly
before the above-named court (if in session), and if not, before a Judge or Judicial Officer of such court without unnecessary
delay, and in any event not later than 36 hours after the arrest or as soon as such Judge or Judicial Officer is available to be
dealt with according to law.

[ ]Execute in MN Only [X]Execute Nationwide [ ]Execute in MN and Border States

[ ] ORDER OF DETENTION
Since the above-named Defendant is already in custody, I hereby order, subject to bail or conditions of release, that the
above-named Defendant continue to be detained pending further proceedings.

Bail: $
Conditions of Release:

This complaint, duly subscribed and sworn to, issued by the undersigned Judicial Officer this
13th day of December , 2010.

JUDICIAL OFFICER: SIGNATURE:

NAME:
TITLE: Judge of District Court __________/s/_________________________
Judge

COUNTY OF DAKOTA Clerk’s Signature or File Stamp

STATE OF MINNESOTA

STATE OF MINNESOTA
Plaintiff,
vs. RETURN OF SERVICE
I hereby Certify and Return that I have served a copy of this
COMPLAINT upon the Defendant herein named.
MELISSA LOUISE HOKANSON,
Signature of Authorized Service Agent:
Defendant.
_______________________________________