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• River Falls teenager's future still up in air after mistrial is declared

By Jason Schulte, RiverTowns staff

Evan Bakke walked out of the Pierce County Courthouse Friday night after his two-day trial no closer to finding an answer about his innocence than when the trial began.

A panel of eight men and four women was unable to reach a verdict after 10 hours of deliberation in the 17-year-old River Falls teenager's burglary trial. Pierce County Circuit Court Judge Robert Wing therefore called it a mistrial around 9:30 p.m.

Court rules state Bakke can be tried on the same charge again. The court calendar Monday showed a trial date of Jan. 20, 2010, at 8:30 a.m.

Background

Bakke was charged with burglarizing a Town of River Falls home March 27. Items taken were a locked safe, family jewelry including heirloom pieces, electronics, two air guns, savings bonds, cash and more.

The house is located southwest of the city limits and was unlocked at the time of the burglary, and no one was there.

For more please read the Nov. 18 print version of the Herald.