COURTS

WALKER -- The driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a Walker-Hackensack-Akeley student who was walking along the shoulder of Cass County State Aid Highway 13 east of Walker April 23 pleaded guilty Sept. 6 to felony criminal vehicular homicide.

Ricky David Jackson, 21, Tower, entered his plea in Cass County District Court before Judge David Harrington. Jackson is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 17.

According to the complaint filed against him, Jackson passed another vehicle on CSAH 13, also known as Onigum Road. His vehicle drifted over the fog line and onto the shoulder on the wrong side of the road, where he struck a pedestrian, Russell Tucker.

Tucker was airlifted to a hospital in St. Cloud, then transferred to a hospital in Hennepin County where he died several hours later as a result of injuries suffered in the traffic accident.

Officers investigating the early morning accident found Jackson's vehicle parked at a residence in the area. It had extensive front-end damage, according to court records. When Jackson returned to the residence about 7 a.m. that morning, he was arrested.

Passengers in Jackson's vehicle reportedly told officers Jackson had panicked after he struck Tucker, and he left the accident scene. The driver of the vehicle Jackson passed reportedly said he saw Jackson brake briefly, then keep going.

Cass court

WALKER -- The following appeared recently in Cass County District Court:

Tracey Ann Pierson, 34, Monticello, was sentenced for a lesser-included gross misdemeanor worthless check to 30 days electronic home monitoring and placed on two years supervised probation.

Jason Howard Mattsen, 26, Brainerd, was sentenced for an amended felony attempted theft to time already served.

Valerie Lynne Johnson, 44, Longville, was sentenced for a lesser-included misdemeanor fifth-degree domestic assault and an amended misdemeanor fifth-degree domestic assault to pay $250 fines and $480 probation fee and was placed on two years supervised probation.

Richard Kirkpatrick Dabill, 41, Backus, was sentenced for felony receiving stolen property to 89 days already served and placed on three years supervised probation.