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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Attorney suggests more charges pending against former clerk-treasurer

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 10/30/19

VIRGINIA— A planned hearing on a motion to dismiss criminal charges against former Tower Clerk-Treasurer Linda Keith was postponed until Nov. 20 upon the request of her attorney. At a brief court …

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Attorney suggests more charges pending against former clerk-treasurer

Posted

VIRGINIA— A planned hearing on a motion to dismiss criminal charges against former Tower Clerk-Treasurer Linda Keith was postponed until Nov. 20 upon the request of her attorney. At a brief court appearance on Oct. 25, Keith’s attorney, Andrew Poole, said it’s his understanding that Keith may be facing additional charges and he’s hoping to fully understand her legal situation before determining how to argue the case.

While Keith’s attorney did not elaborate on the nature of any additional charges, the Timberjay can confirm that city officials in Tower have submitted their own complaint for Keith’s admitted destruction of a city laptop computer. Assistant county attorney Jessica Fralich stated on Sept. 27 that the city’s complaint is “pending review for charging.”

The nature of those charges remains unclear, but city officials contend that the cost to replace the computer, which Keith acknowledges she destroyed, is in excess of $1,000, which could leave the former city clerk-treasurer subject to a felony charge.

Keith maintains that the computer, which was approximately six years old, had ceased operating and that she and her son cooperated in the destruction of the device, including shooting it, running it over with a pickup truck, and ultimately burning the remains in a fire.

Keith is already facing gross misdemeanor charges for alleged falsification of official city records for altering the terms of office of members of various city committees and commissions in order to facilitate the removal of former Tower Economic Development Authority president Marshall Helmberger from his city post in retaliation for critical reporting and editorials regarding actions of the city, including actions of the city clerk.

Linda Keith, tower