Washington County attorney reviews crime trends, human trafficking work and juvenile diversion

Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson told the Lake Elmo City Council on May 20 that public safety is the office’s top priority and described trends the office is tracking, including auto theft and juvenile offending.

Magnuson summarized the county attorney’s structure and caseload, saying the office handles roughly 1,500 referrals a year and prosecutes felonies and some gross misdemeanors for county law enforcement. "Public safety is the number one thing I'm looking at," Magnuson said, adding the office balances rehabilitation and diversion with community safety.

Magnuson told the council that auto thefts remain a concern and said the agency tracks related offenses such as receiving stolen property when the individual who possessed a stolen vehicle cannot be shown to have taken it. He said motor-vehicle thefts spiked during the COVID period and have since fallen toward pre-pandemic levels but remain too high. "You will see that the numbers do, kinda coincide with the COVID," Magnuson said.

Magnuson described the county’s work on human trafficking through what he called the East Metro human trafficking task force, a multi-agency effort he credited with preventing trafficking from establishing a larger footprint in Washington County. He said the task force has shifted some emphasis toward recovery and services for runaway and trafficked youth, which he described as a growing need. "When you say, you know, they get solicited within... the first 48 hours of being a runaway or homeless is the number two contributor to being trafficked," Magnuson said.

He illustrated the office’s rescue work with an account of a missing 14-year-old found in a Newport motel after task force investigators used phone-location warrants; Magnuson said quick action prevented further assault. He also noted the difficulty of helping victims disengage from traffickers and pointed to local recovery housing that has recently opened as part of the response.

On juvenile crime, Magnuson said the office uses diversion for many first-time and lower-level juvenile offenders, but said about 10 cases a year involve youths with extensive records where prosecutors consider certification to adult court or extended juvenile jurisdiction. "We try to use the right size hammer for the right size nail," he said.

Magnuson also reviewed a recent fatal crash investigation in Lake Elmo that resulted in vehicular-homicide charges; he summarized the charges and possible sentencing without commenting on pending matters.

Council members thanked Magnuson for the briefing. No action was required or taken by the council on matters he described.

The council meeting record shows the county attorney's presentation began during the public presentation slot and ran into regular agenda time; there were no votes attached to the presentation itself.