Star Tribune
Former youth leader for Duluth Vineyard church, Jackson Gatlin, sentenced to prison for sexual assault
Since Gatlin’s plea earlier this month, nine victims have filed civil charges against him — in addition to his parents, Duluth Vineyard and Vineyard USA, its governing body.
In the civil complaints filed November 6, Gatlin is accused of extended hugs, touching teenaged girls over and under their clothes, making them touch him, tackling them in the guise of playing games, and raping them. He is accused of tying a girl to his bedpost. In one case, Brenda Gatlin reportedly walked into her bedroom and found her son sexually assaulting a girl. Nothing came of it, according to the complaint.
Gatlin told several girls that he was going to teach them and show them the love of god, according to court documents. A parent found sexual text messages from Jackson Gatlin to their daughter and notified at least one of his parents.
The Gatlins, Duluth Vineyard and Vineyard USA are accused of continuing to give Jackson Gatlin access to minors, even though leadership had been told of his action, not providing proper training, covering up information and not going to the local police department, among other accusations.
Jackson Gatlin was fired from his position within the church in mid-February 2023 and was not allowed back on the church campus. Michael Gatlin resigned as senior pastor at Duluth Vineyard and from various positions and board tied to the church in February 2023. He had been with the church for 2 years. Brenda Gatlin, who was a super regional leader for Vineyard USA, followed suit.
Star Tribune
Deputy injured when vehicle struck his squad while at a crash scene on a central Minnesota highway
A deputy was seriously injured Sunday night after a vehicle collided with his squad car on a central Minnesota highway while he was responding to another crash.
On Sunday just before 10 p.m., deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to assist the Minnesota State Patrol on a report of a crash on westbound Interstate 94 near Evansville. The initial accident involved a vehicle that had slid off the road and struck cable barriers in the median. The Minnesota State Patrol reported snow and icy road conditions.
While deputies were on the scene, another westbound vehicle crashed into a parked sheriff’s office squad car from behind. A deputy was in the car when it was struck. The squad car had its lights activated and several flares had been placed in the roadway to warn drivers.
Both the deputy and the driver of the second vehicle were taken to Alomere Health Hospital with serious injuries. The second crash caused significant delays in westbound traffic. The incident is under investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol.
Star Tribune
Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office
NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.
The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices on everything from gas to automobiles. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent Census data.
Trump made the threats in a pair of posts on his Truth Social site Monday evening in which he railed against an influx of illegal migrants, even though southern border crossings have been hovering at a four-year low.
”On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he wrote, complaining that “thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” even though violent crime is down from pandemic highs.
He said the new tariffs would remain in place ”until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! ”
Trump also turned his ire to China, saying he has ”had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail.”
”Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” he wrote.
It is unclear whether Trump will actually go through with the threats or if he is using them as a negotiating tactic before he takes office in the new year.
Star Tribune
Woman spared prison for after the fact role in fatal shooting at Twin Cities gas station
A woman was spared prison Monday and sentenced to probation for aiding a man accused in a fatal shooting 3½ years ago at a Minneapolis gas station.
Yalayna R. Butcher-Griffin, 25, of Oakdale, was sentenced in Hennepin County District Court to three years’ probation and given credit for the nearly six months she spent in jail after pleading guilty to aiding an offender after the fact in connection with the shooting of 19-year-old George F. Zeon, of Plymouth, on May 6, 2021, at the Amstar gas station on West Broadway between James and Knox avenues.
If she abides by the terms of probation, Butcher-Griffin’s conviction can be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Butcher-Griffin’s sentence also includes an agreement by her to cooperate with the prosecution and testify truthfully against the accused shooter, 21-year-old Albert J. Lucas, of St. Paul, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting and has been charged in adult court with second-degree murder. He remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail ahead of a Dec. 9 court date.
According to criminal complaint from the 2021 killing:
Surveillance video showed a vehicle pull up to Zeon as he pumped gas. Two males left the vehicle, entered the store, came out and confronted Zeon, whose girlfriend was with him.
She told police the suspects were asking Zeon about being in a gang, which confused her.
Deputy injured when vehicle struck his squad while at a crash scene on a central Minnesota highway
Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office
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Deputy injured when vehicle struck his squad while at a crash scene on a central Minnesota highway
Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office