Latest news: Olson gets fine, probation
By David Unze dunze@stcloudtimes.com
Published: August 16. 2007 12:30AM - Last updated: August 16. 2007 7:02PMELK RIVER — State Rep. Mark Olson won’t have to spend any more time in jail for his domestic assault conviction, but he faces two years of probation and about $400 in fines and court surcharges.
A Sherburne County judge on Thursday sentenced Olson, an eight-term Republican from Big Lake, on one count of domestic assault. A jury in July convicted Olson of causing his wife fear of bodily harm during an incident at their home.
Judge Alan Pendleton sentenced Olson to 90 days in jail, but stayed the sentence and put Olson on two years probation, fined him and required him to complete a 12-week group counseling program.
As a condition of staying the 90-day sentence, Pendleton sentenced Olson to three days in jail, for which Olson already has credit.
Pendleton issued the sentence after denying several motions filed by Olson’s attorney aimed at getting Olson a new trial or an outright acquittal.
Heidi Olson spoke at her husband’s sentencing and likened their four-year marriage to a “roller-coaster ride” that she “jumped off of by making a report to the police” after the November incident.
She accused Olson of letting his role as a legislator drive his trial strategy, which she said was to discredit and blame her.
“I’m hoping that you can find something to help Mark,” she told Pendleton.
Testimony at trial showed that the Olsons were arguing at their house when Mark Olson put his hands on Heidi Olson’s shoulders and she ended up on the ground. He said he guided her to the ground in an attempt to calm her down.
She testified that he pushed her to the ground repeatedly.
Both testified that they had heated arguments but they disagreed on who started them and whether either of them had turned the arguments physical.
Olson on Thursday again denied that he intended to cause fear in his wife or harm her.
“With all due respect, I submit that my failure on Nov. 12 was not a crime,” he told Pendleton.
The jury found Olson not guilty of harming or trying to harm his wife.
Since his arrest, Olson has repeatedly said he doesn’t intend to resign his position. He said again Thursday that he “remains committed” to his wife.
She has filed for divorce.
*Mark "Drink Water to Avoid Cancer" Olson continues to believe he did nothing wrong. Hopefully, his constituents will see fit to relieve him of his position. Unfortunately, there are still those standing beside Olson in his time of SHAME:
11.
Archie from Coon Rapids
Comment Posted: 8/16/2007 10:11:28 PM
Gee: what are the gossiper Olson hating Demoncrats going to do now that the BIG MISDEMEANOR TRIAL has ended?
How about starting on Senator John Hottinger that ripped off a client that he was a trust administrator for. Of course violations by a State senator and violations of the fiduciary of a client's trust fund by an officer of the court is so much worse than keeping an enraged Mrs from smashing your face, Right gang?
You made a great stand against the gossipers Mark and Heidi, you can have your life back now,
The under reported piece in this story is the treatment of an autistic boy by Mark Olson. If the reports are true I would urge someone to file charges of child abuse due to the extreme emotional trauma brought on this child by someone who apparently has little compassion for others. It sounds as though this wasn't the first instance of such behavior on behalf of Olson. Someone who cannot let a simple game of Monopoly slide certainly should not be making decisions for our state.
Family Dynamics Prove Destructive
Tuesday, 14 August 2007 by Bob Grawey
Staff writerOlson’s harsh disposition was particularly egregious concerning Heidi’s autistic son. When the boy would make a mistake about something, Heidi says Olson would not overlook the error even though it might be petty.
Such was the case when Olson was playing Monopoly with the 13-year-old.
“My son with autism had paid the wrong price for a hotel,” Heidi recalls, “and because Mark deals with everything as either right or wrong, he had to correct him on the price of the hotel. It became an issue and I received a call from my son saying ‘Mark just won’t let it go. I don’t know what to do.’”
Heidi instructed her son to stop playing the game and go to his room and read a book, or he could apologize for paying the wrong price and continue playing the game. The boy apologized and continued playing, but apparently Olson would not let it go.
“My son started hitting himself because he became so frustrated with Mark, and he thought Mark was harassing him,” Heidi says. “So he started hitting himself in the head, and hitting at Mark.”
