Brown County

District Court

Jesse J. Barnhardt, 36, 406 Broadway, Hanska, was charged Monday of felony fifth-degree Drug Possession-Not Small Amount Marijuana-Subsequent Conviction. According to court documents, a New Ulm Police officer was on foot patrol on July 14 at Linderhof Apartments, 1100 16th St. North, when he smelled a slight burnt marijuana odor coming from an apartment.

At the west side of the building, the officer smelled an overwhelming odor of burnt marijuana coming from an open patio door.

After bringing another officer in, the first officer spoke with the resident of the apartment, who denied any marijuana had been smoked. The other officer reported someone had thrown something off the patio of the apartment, and recovered a green silicon container recognized as a wax container for dabs (butane hash oil). Two small pieces of marijuana wax were in the container. Police identified Barnhardt as the person who threw the container out the patio door.

Barnhardt said he had a prescription for medical marijuana. Police NIK tested .10 grams of marijuana wax that tested positive for THC.

Barnhardt had been convicted of fifth-degree controlled substance possession on Aug. 31, 2015 in Blue Earth County, which is a prior controlled substance conviction.

Mark Espinoza, 35, 2526 S. Bridge St., New Ulm, was charged Monday with gross misdemeanor Selling Liquor to a Person under 21. According to court documents, New Ulm Police did an alcohol compliance check in plainclothes with 20 and 19-year-old people at Plaza Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant, 1707 N. Broadway on Aug. 20.

A waiter, later identified as Espinoza, asked for drink orders and everyone ordered a beer. Espinoza asked for identification from one of the underage customers who said she forgot her ID and would retrieve it. In the meantime, Epinoza placed a beer on a table where she sat.

Nolan M. Wester, 24, 100 N. State St., New Ulm, was charged Monday with two counts of gross misdemeanor third-degree DWI, and petty misdemeanor No Vehicle Registration and Wrong Way on One-Way Road. According to court documents, New Ulm Police were on patrol at 11:50 p.m., Aug, 25 when a vehicle was observed traveling east on 14th St. South, in reverse for about a quarter block, then drove away rapidly down an alley, then into the McDonald’s parking lot.

Police stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Wester, who had trouble comprehending what police said and showed signs of intoxication. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. He provided a breath sample for analysis at 12:37 a.m. that showed an alcohol concentration of .21 grams per 210 liters of breath.

Lucas J. Zanke, 19, 1301 S. State, New Ulm was charged Monday with felony first-degree Damage to Property-Foreseeable Risk Bodily Harm. According to court documents, New Ulm Police responded to a property damage report at 1301 S. State at 8:34 p.m., Aug. 26.

At the residence, police talked with a person who said he and Zanke got into an argument in which he “flipped out” and kicked in the front house door, breaking the frame, then punched a hole in a wall near the door, walked to the garage and punched through a garage window.

The complainant said Zanke walked to his vehicle and punched a driver’s door window but it didn’t break, then punched it again, breaking it, then drove away in an alley. Police found Zanke in the garage sweeping up broken window glass. Police saw he had blood on one of his hands.

Matthew D. Greidanus, 42, Madison, Wi., was charged Monday with gross misdemeanor third-degree Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test, fourth-degree DWI. According to court documents, New Ulm Police were on patrol at 1:48 a.m., Aug. 27 when they observed a vehicle southbound on German St. near 2nd South that appeared to be traveling at a fast rate, brake hard, then pull hard to the right and park in the 500 block of S. German St. A man and woman left the vehicle and appeared to have been drinking. Police saw the vehicle quickly pull away before they stopped it. identifying the driver as Greidanus, He admitted drinking and was confused about what time it was. He failed field sobriety tests and a Preliminary Breath Test and was arrested for DWI. He refused to submit to a chemical breath test.