Former Watson Mayor Joseph Rongstad Will Be Sentenced This Afternoon

(Montevideo MN-) Former Watson Mayor Joseph Rongstad will be sentenced this afternoon for threatening to kill University of Minnesota students on Facebook January 11th. In June, Rongstad, 42, pleaded guilty to two counts of Threats of Violence. Rongstad has been battling mental illness for several years, which resulted in some run-ins with the law. but earlier this year Judge Jennifer Fischer ruled Rongstad was mentally competent to stand trial.

In February Judge Fischer said if convicted, she intended to give Rongstad a sentence harsher than the maximum recommended because the threats made on Facebook by Rongstad affected a greater-than-normal number of people…several area school districts and the U of M went on lockdown after the threats were made. And also because the threats occurred over a prolonged period of time, and there was a greater-than-normal threat to the public. Rongstad was arrested at his Watson home by a SWAT team several hours after the threats were made.

At sentencing, The Stevens County Sheriff’s Department is asking for restitution in the amount of $2192 from Rongstad to reimburse them for sending out The SWAT Team.