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NEW ULM -- A three-day jury trial was set Tuesday for a 55-year-old former rural Winthrop man arrested April 23, 2021 near New Ulm Medical Center after offering a reward for a doctor's kidnapping.
At a pre-trial hearing Tuesday, a jury trial was schduled for June 29-July 1 for Ronald H. Schoenborn of Deerwood, who faces a felony threats of violence charge.
A misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge was earlier dismissed.
Schoenborn has until June 22 to accept a plea agreement from Brown County Attorney Charles Hanson.
He was arrested after New Ulm Police noticed a particular sign among several messages on the outside of his vehicle in 2021, according to the complaint.
Of concern was a sign that read "$500 reward for Dr. Randeep Dhami to be brought to me unharmed." The sign appeared to be a plastic, poster-style board with block letters.
Police were aware that Schoenborn had been parking near NUMC with various signs on his vehicle displayed regarding his perceived treatment by NUMC and at least one doctor at the hospital.
On April 23, 2021, New Ulm Police Sgt. Charles Rasche saw Schoenborn sitting in a vehicle with the sign, parked, facing east on 5th North Street, just east of Garden Street.
After discussing the matter with Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson, police were asked to arrest Schoenborn for making a threat of violence.
Police arrested Schoenborn and transported him to the Brown County Law Enforcement Center and signed him in as a hold for threats of violence.
Schoenborn's vehicle was seized as evidence. Police found five $100 bills, the exact "reward" amount he offered for the kidnapping and false imprisonment of Dhami.
(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.)