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Harris pleads guilty to conspiracy to sell drug in Kimball overdose

NEW ULM — One of the two men charged in the overdose death of Maurice Kimball on July 12, 2016, pleaded guilty Monday in Brown County District Court to a count of conspiracy to commit drug sales in the third degree.

Logan Harris of New Ulm had been charged on Nov. 14, 2016, with participating in the sale of methamphetamine to Kimball, 24, of New Ulm, who died of an accidental methamphetamine overdose after being arrested and becoming ill in the Brown County Jail.

Kimball had been arrested on July 9 at the home of a woman when police went to the home for a drug court compliance check on the woman. Officers smelled marijuana and found Kimball, who was arrested for fifth degree possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell.

Later, while in custody at the jail, Kimball began suffering medical complications. He was released from jail on a medical furlough, taken to New Ulm Medical Center and then to Abbot-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, where he died of a methamphetamine overdose. It was later found he had smuggled two small packs of methamphetamine into the jail.

Harris and Andrew Frederickson were charged in November with multiple counts, including murder in the third degree, and third degree controlled substance sales.

According to a statement from the County Attorney’s office, after extensive discussions between Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson, Assistant Brown County Attorney Paul Gunderson, investigating officer Sgt. Jeremy Reed and the family of Maurice Kimball, the decision was made to offer the plea deal to the Conspiracy to Commit Drug Sale charge. In exchange for the guilty plea, other charges were dismissed, and Harris will serve 51 months with the Minnesota Department of Corrections. He is currently held at the Brown County Jail, pending sentencing, which is scheduled to take place on June 26.

At his hearing Monday, Harris admitted to the court his participation in the drug transaction. He said he purchased the methamphetamine in Waseca, and had turned them over to Frederickson. He said Frederickson intended to sell the drugs to Kimball. This took place a day or two before Kimball’s arrest.

Hanson said it has never been clearly determined when Kimball took the fatal dose of methamphetamines, nor how he smuggled the drugs into the jail.

A sentencing hearing will be held on June 26 at 9:30 a.m. in Brown County District Court. Family members will have the opportunity to submit victim impact statements for the upcoming sentencing hearing.

The remaining defendant, Andrew Frederickson, is scheduled to appear at a pre-trial hearing on May 15 at 9 a.m. Frederickson is free on bail.

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