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• Pair plead to charges from drug-related incidents
• River Falls teenager accused of arson

By Jason Schulte, RiverTowns staff

A man and a woman who were both charged in Pierce County Circuit Court earlier this year with multiple drug-related charges, including manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of a child, reached a conclusion in their cases last week.

Mark O. Butler, 36, pled guilty to misdemeanor obstructing an officer, while Melissa M. Schlichting, 29, pled guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine. Pierce County Judge Robert Wing sentenced Butler to one year probation, while Schlichting received three years probation.

The charges stem from an incident in February, when Pierce County Sheriff's deputies and investigators arrived at Jamie Tri's house in Hager City for a search warrant. Upon entrance, investigators found Tri and asked if Butler and Schlichting escaped out the back window. Tri said yes. Both were eventually found and arrested.

Investigators then asked a witness who lived at the house about Butler and Schlichting, and she replied Schlichting has been living there for about two weeks, and Butler comes and go every day. When asked why, the witness said Schlichting has been "hiding from you guys." She also said the pair sells drugs out of the house as well, including methamphetamine.

For more please read the Sept. 9 print version of the Pierce County Herald.

By Jason Schulte, RiverTowns staff

Charges were filed earlier this month in Pierce County Circuit Court against a River Falls teenager in relation to the fire at Kinnickinnic State Park in March.

Evan R. Bakke, 17, N8041 925th St., was charged with three felonies - arson, burglary, and criminal damage to property. The arson is the most serious of the three as it carries a maximum penalty of $100,000 and/or 40 years prison if Bakke is found guilty.

According to the criminal complaint, Sheriff's Investigator Doug Ducklow wrote in his report that he was called to a garage fire at the park, located at 770th Ave. in the town of Clifton, 7:25 p.m. March 18.

Upon his arrival he was notified by the Assistant Park Manager that the garage contained foam for the docks and signs for the park and that the foam was stacked to the ceiling, adding additional fuel to the fire. Ducklow was also notified that a neighboring house, which was currently unoccupied, had been entered through as well.

Ducklow described in his report what the house looked like, including key points as finding two shoe prints in the kitchen amongst the dust, burn areas on the living room carpet and in a bedroom and a metal shelf bracket that appeared to have fingerprints on it. He also noted a print was found on a piece of glass with duct tape wrapped around it.

For more please read the Sept. 16 print version of the Pierce County Herald.