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Bemidji man sentenced in sword assault

A Bemidji man was sentenced Sept. 26 for crimes associated with a June assault in which he used a sword.

Lucas White French, 29, was sentenced by Beltrami County District Judge John Melbye to 18 months in prison for felony malicious punishment of a child and 13 months in prison for felony fourth-degree assault of a peace officer with demonstrable bodily harm, both stayed for five years. On the two charges, he must serve 73 days in jail, pay $500 of a $1,000 fine and serve five years of supervised probation.

French also was sentenced to 90 days in jail for misdemeanor dangerous weapons-recklessly handle or use and must pay a $100 fine.

According to the criminal complaint:

Frank had been drinking with a man on June 12 in Liberty Township in Beltrami County when he and the man got into a fight in the presence of a 10-year-old boy, who told deputies he saw French punch the other man several times. A case holding Samurai swords was knocked over and French seized one of the swords and tried to use it like an ax on the other man, who blocked the blow with another sword. French also struck the child with the sword; the child required multiple stitches in the emergency room.

French was taken to Beltrami County Jail. He accused the deputies of racism and inflicted a wound on his forehead by slamming his head against the interior of the squad car. At the jail, he resisted efforts of corrections officers during booking and spat in the face of a deputy who tried to take a picture of his head injury, according to the complaint.

French escaped from custody in August while on work release and was arrested on the escape charge in Brookings, S.D., by South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation special agents and Brookings police officers.

He had been working at a local business when he left on a break and did not return to work.

French’s companion, Carmen Faye Monroe, 31, of Bemidji, was arrested in South Dakota on charges of aiding and abetting the escape. French and Monroe left Bemidji with two children who they did not have legal custody of; the children were recovered unharmed by police.

 

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